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

[getting_better]

Easier, maybe but - [ He drives the blade straight into the necromancers skull before they even get a chance to beg. ] - my way is faster.

[ And infinitely more satisfying. Momo gets a firm nod from Bishop for both points, following right behind to pick up the mother and bring her to the opening of the alley and putting her down just when she's at the shadows. ]

I'll bring folks here to the half way mark to save up time.

[ He says loudly before rushing back to get more people. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo is at least already turned around by then, but he's heard the sound of a knife going through meat and bone often enough to recognise it. He's not going to linger on that, though, because that way lies deeper thoughts on everything going on tonight and those are reserved for after the battle is finished.

He doesn't respond to Bishop's change in method, but he obviously heard him considering there are several more people moved by the time Bishop gets back. It's maybe a minute or two of uninterrupted work before something that sounds unpleasantly like a cherry-bomb type explosion issues from further up the street - one of the escaped slum Witches going on a power trip and headed towards the sleepers.

Momo swears and pops out from the doorway.] Is that one of the psycho leftover hangers-on or one of the actual ex-Coven members?

[getting_better]

[ There's already a hand up signaling him to hold his ground by the time Momo popped out, which he holds up for a couple of seconds before gesturing for him to follow his lead. Or at least he hopes he understood that since Bishop is crouched as he heads back towards the street but stops right at the end of the building for cover.

Peeking over the corner he sees and relays - ]

Male, no visible physical difference from a human so likely a witch. Mid to late thirties by the looks of it. Judging from the outfit, he's not a necromancer, so he's one of the people who's probably not too happy with the current state of things.

[ He peeks a bit further to get more the street and clicks his tongue. ]

There's another with him a few paces behind. Necromancer. Looks like he has a few zombies with him.....some.....freshly turned.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo makes a spitting sound through his teeth at the "freshly turned" remark. It's not as if he wasn't expecting them to use resources so easily at hand, but it's still a hell of a thing to actually hear.] Of course. Guess their own dead aren't enough of a hint how that's going to go for them.

[He starts to prepare a spell - which with his usual casting method, involves "writing" it down one forearm, then the other with a finger. It leaves a glowing trail in its wake, a sign of the magic coming live to be used up when he properly casts it.]

How do you want to play this? No guarantee I'm not going to snap when I see the recently raised dead, but a little strategy never hurt anyone.

[Except whoever they're intending to hurt, which he is entirely okay with.]

[getting_better]

[ The plan is to attack, obviously but how to go about it is the question. ]

Our advantage is the element of surprise, theirs is superior numbers. There's also still a lot of sleeping people on the street so our attack has to be fast, precise, and ruthless. Have you fought zombies before? They're bumbling but surprisingly strong. I imagine that with fresher bodies, they're faster too.

[yesdoubt]

Yeah, there were necromancers screwing around the Wilde not long after I got here, this isn't my first dance with their thralls. [He hadn't even learnt that much magic the previous time, he'd mostly just been relying on the club he'd used when he started out here and the enchanted knife he still has.]

That said, if we're talking element of surprise and ruthless efficiency, I can hide us with an illusion. If the thralls don't get time to react before their masters start dropping, they won't really be a problem.

[Given his "fighting style" back home was probably closest matched to street fighting, Momo is very far from an honourable fighter when it comes right down to it.]

[getting_better]

[ He gives a quiet acknowledging nod while his eyes never leave his targets. An illusion to cover them would be good but the moment it's broken they'll still have to deal with the numerous zombies. It's not a bad idea, but it could be better.

He reaches inside his coat and withdraws his magitech gun then hands it over to Momo. ]

Magitech revolver. There's six shots, think of an element before you squeeze the trigger and it'll fire a compressed spell that can either explode on contact or half a second or more after. [ The second one is his favorite cause it makes bad guys suffer more. Do you know how painful it is to have a bullet made of compressed flame lodged in your arm only to have it explode a second later? ] Focus your magic into your palms to reload. It's two seconds for me because I know the shape of the bullet but you don't have to worry about that if we do this right.

[ He takes another look at the street, his left hand pulling his sword to his hip and unlocking the blade. ]

Here's the plan. I'll draw their attention, rush them from the front, keep them on me and away from the people. I'll bait them towards that alley, have them think they got me trapped while you hide yourself with illusion magic and pick them off. Use the gun, it'll be faster that way and the sound of the shot will scare them. After one shot, move to another spot and shoot, repeat. Don't let them see the muzzle flash. Copy?

[yesdoubt]

[Given the rather strict laws on guns where he comes from, Momo has only ever handled prop guns before (and even then he usually gets characters who prefer knives), so the revolver getting handed over to him gets rather a blank look initially. He takes it, but it's clear he hasn't got a clue how to actually use a gun in a fight until Bishop explains the magitech aspect.

Which is somewhat reassuring, because he can definitely aim well and pull a trigger, but he does have to quiz one thing Bishop says. The fact that he's clearly being expected to land fatal shots on all of them might be reason to object in another situation, but Momo's previous dealings with necromancers already impressed on him that leaving them alive isn't really an option. He'll deal with that side of his head later.]

If it's loud enough to scare them, is it going to screw up my eardrums at this close range? I've never used a gun before, I don't know what they sound like for real.

[He deals with loud concert environments all the time, but those aren't sudden and he's typically wearing some kind of ear protection.]

[getting_better]

No, you'll be fine.

[ He turns to him and guides Momo's hands around the gun and guides him as he spoke. ]

Finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire. Pull the hammer back with your the thumb of your main hand to switch to single action, that'll make it easier to shoot. Hold the gun with both hands to steady your aim and prevent any accidents.

[ He holds his hands steady and looks him in the eye making sure that he gets it, though given the history he's had Bishop knows that Momo can do it when it counts. When he finally releases him, he turns his attention back the terrorist and hooligan on the street. ]

Ready.

[ It wasn't a question, it was a signal because after he took a breath Bishop dashed out onto the street and towards his first target. The mad man who sided with Morgana. Thankfully Bishop's analysis was spot on and they were all caught unawares since he managed to slice the traitorous Witch and a zombie as he passed. There were swears and displeased roars flung at him as he turned to face them and slowly made his way to the alley. So far, things were going as he planned. ]

cw: gore

[yesdoubt]

[Momo follows the instructions easily, at least, shifting his fingers slightly over the trigger guard and the hammer to get used to the grip before seeming to settle into it. He's focused on the gun and making sure he has the hold right for those first few moments, but he does meet Bishop's eye once that's sorted out - he mostly just looks focused and determined, like he wants all of this over as soon as possible and will deal with whatever he has to do to make that happen.]

Alright, got it. [Though that's all he really gets to do before Bishop gives the cue and moves, which he supposes is one way to kick him into action. Letting out a short breath to steel himself, Momo draws a very quick sigil in the air and casts an area of effect invisibility illusion, just barely enough beyond his person that it'll catch the muzzle flash (and anything his feet might do to the stone of the street when he moves), but won't out him by accidentally catching up something he stands too close to as well.

Ice is the primary element he's used to right now, so he first jumps to that, the easiest and most natural one to make the first bullet of. He picks a fairly easy place to take the shot from for the first one too, just to make sure he's not going to screw it up, reasonably straight-on but a decent distance away still, makes sure he has a good grip and fires.

The recoil still surprises him a bit, but he prepared enough that it doesn't affect the shot. The ice bullet, however, takes on the most familiar form to Momo, what he's primarily been doing when he uses ice as a weapon - spears and spikes. The result is a similar effect to a fragmenting round, lodging in his target's shoulder and then immediately exploding into a mess of small but cruel, high-velocity spikes that lodge in the neck and head, and down towards the internal organs on the inside. Even though the initial location wouldn't have been fatal on a normal bullet, the addition of the spikes makes for a very quick and painful, if also quite messy, end.

Momo moves from his position as it explodes, not particularly wanting to see the gritty details since it'd probably slow him down. The other of the two necromancers they initially spotted turns to where Momo had just been, but he's already somewhere else and levelling a second shot.

It impacts just to one side of the base of the spine, another one that would've been lasting and unpleasant but not necessarily fatal in the case of a normal bullet. But then the spell explodes, several of the ice spikes go in and up into the chest cavity - a much easier trip when he hit muscle and not bone initially - and the necromancer drops, just one or two telltale tips of the spikes protruding at angles out of the front of his ribcage to telegraph exactly what part of the spell killed him.

However, Momo continues to move, waiting to see if all the thralls drop too. If those were the only two with this group, they should, but he wants to be sure. And also doesn't want to stop long enough to have to look at the bodies he's leaving behind.]

[getting_better]

[ Things were going well. Too well. He could feel it in his bones that something was wrong, a piece to this morbid puzzle was missing but it was just out of reach.

Now wasn't the time for those thoughts however, and Bishop was pulled back into reality as the second shot goes off. A figure fell beyond the thralls he kept at bay, a necromancer he thinks.

'That's one' he whispered to himself as the other zombies lurched closer, swiping and growling at him while he dodged and moved towards the alleyway. He didn't see catch the muzzle flash of the gun, 'Good, Momo hid it behind the illusion', but he did see a lingering vapor trail from the ice bullet before it vanished. It was nostalgic being bait like this, enough so that the muscle memory kicks in and Bishop lured the rest to have their backs turned from where he thinks Momo will move next.

Then the second shot and another necromancer, but the zombies didn't fall. At least, not immediately. They lingered and twitched before finally crumbling before their own weight, like puppets with their strings cut. He sighed as he came out of the alley, blade still in hand as he surveyed the area. ]

All clear from me.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo looks around as well, though he's just generally on high alert all the time in fights like this. He's gotten more used to the specific kind of surrounding awareness one needs in fights specifically, but he's still kind of at the stage where he can't really make it go away until a fight is over, and it's going to be exhausting at the end of all this, but for now he's pushing through.

Still, once Bishop speaks, Momo reappears, near the corner of a building and a good way away from the dead necromancers. It's debatable whether he's there because he'd be harder to find or because he really doesn't want to look at what happened, since his expression is so closed as to be unreadable. His tone doesn't give anything away either, even and still a bit coarse around the edges. After hiding almost all of his negative feelings on anything at all for five years, this might as well be child's play.]

I don't see anyone else either, but we'll see how long that lasts. [It feels like that kind of fight. He offers Bishop his revolver back, trying not to point it at either of them out of general caution and being pretty sure you're not supposed to do that.]

[getting_better]

[ He nods as Momo gives what he sees and relaxes. ]

Let's hope long enough to get these people in the clear.

[ He takes his gun back and holsters it inside his coat while giving Momo a look up and down. ]

You alright?

[ He did just have him kill two people, two people who would have hurt many more and likely forced them to kill them anyway, but it's still either a difficult or eerily easy thing to do and no one truly walks away from that without anything. No one with a soul at least. ]

[yesdoubt]

[The visual look-over probably won't get much, other than that Momo is generally tense in the same way he has been the whole fight. He's the kind of person who feels a lot, so having to hide it well for so long means he can put just about anything away for a little while if he needs to. Even if it's this bad.]

I'll think about that later. Like you said, we need to move these people.

[Momo turns away from the bodies and starts to head back towards the sleeping civilians still lying out in the open, apparently preferring not to see what he did at all. He's presumably not fine with it with an answer like that, but he's very much compartmentalising it hard until this is over, and for now focusing on what he can get done instead.]

[getting_better]

[ Bishop has seen that quiet in people after killing another. Queen called it "zanshin" - the state of relaxed awareness after a kill. He's been taught to feel that to the end, he's accepted the fate his hands will be bloody, but now that he thinks about it was Momo? He certainly seemed to keen to kill the necromancer when he found him earlier.

Whatever the case, he had the right of it. They needed to move, and there was still the prevalent feeling that something is terribly off. Bishop starts to fall back into the rhythm they had set before they were interrupted, carrying on in silence until the all the children, women and elderly have been cleared. ]

Is there still space in the house? I can open up another one if needed.

[yesdoubt]

[It probably would've been easier had Momo been in his feral mode, honestly, since he tends not to clearly remember what he does when he's like that. His focus slips out when he sees someone at immediate risk and then he comes back to his senses with bloody unconscious people in front of him and usually being held back by someone (or two). Being completely of present mind, however, made the whole thing feel a whole lot more personal and premeditated.

At least focusing on moving people gives him something else to think about, and he's very diligent about the work, until Bishop speaks up again.]

Hm? Yeah, there's at least room for a couple more. We might need to open up another one in a minute, but might as well finish up here first.

[getting_better]

Right. Let's get these fellas in then. You take the harpy, I'll get the chimera.

[ He says as he lifts up a rather large male chimera....well, try to. The man is at least a good foot taller than Bishop and about triple his weight, and it's clear from how he's grunting that he's struggling.

But he won't admit to needing help. Even as he shakily walked closer to the door. ]

Hrrrrmmmmmmm!!! C'mon, you jackass! Move it!

[ He's talking to himself. Or encouraging? It's hard to tell sometimes. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo raises his eyebrows at the suggestion that Bishop is going to move a chimera on his own, but doesn't argue initially, instead moving to scoop up the harpy. He knows how light they are considering he's Bonded to one, so he's back from the transport extremely quickly to...continue raising his eyebrows at Bishop's efforts for a few pointed moments.

And then he comes over to help take the weight.]

Yeah, I'm not watching you get him in the door and then drop him on someone because you won't ask for help. [Not even asking to help, just doing it and not taking arguments. There's a certain point that Momo crosses in situations like this after which he just doesn't broker argument.]

[getting_better]

[ He honestly thought this wouldn't be so hard but when Momo goes to help him, he didn't protest. The silver lining in carrying this dead weight was that he could still see where he was going and and slowly tip toe and maneuver around the other unconscious witches and monsters. ]

There! Put em' in the corner!

[ After setting down the large chimera, and allowing himself a nice stretch, he looks over the number of those around and then at Momo. ]

I'll get to work on opening the house next door. I think they these folks look alright but, I maybe just give them a quick once over just to make sure, yeah?

[yesdoubt]

[Momo doesn't bother with the stretch part beyond shaking himself out - he's generally not too inclined towards taking care of himself in situations like this. He stays more in the moment and then worries about if he did his back in later.

And while he doesn't necessarily have an issue with Bishop's suggestion, he does tilt his head a bit as if confused.]

Sure. Is this just for injuries or what? [If Bishop's looking for something other than the potential people got seriously dinged on the way in, he'll have to mention it.]

[getting_better]

I'll be honest, I'm not sure.

[ He sighs, scratching his head out of frustration. ]

Physical injuries are easy to spot, a few of them already have bruises from they fell but, what caused this? I know it's a spell but what kind?

[ He knelt down before a family that's been place together and started to check the child for a temperature, swelling, a mark, and whatever else. ]

You're a witch too so you should understand that magic of this magnitude isn't easy to pull of, but there's a kind of residue. Like a chill in the air after ice was cast, or a stronger breeze with wind, but there's none of that here. Even if it were an enchantment we should be able to sense it, or at least find a mark or magic circle, a medium of some kind. Even if they were poisoned, their bodies should show some kind outward effect like unusual odor from their mouth or something. But there's nothing that I can see.

[ And it pisses him off. ]

I'm hoping that maybe you'll see something I don't, because if we don't and this is just some new kind of curse or spell, then capturing Drummond is the only way I can think of to set them free. But I don't know what other tricks she may have. For all I know she could...

[ Kill everyone asleep with a snap of her fingers. He doesn't want to jinx it by saying it out loud, but the threat does loom over the air. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo nods understandingly, but he doesn't seem entirely convinced at the same time. In other situations, he'd been inclined to agree, but Drummond...everything he's heard about her implies she's on a whole other level. Coming from the background of magic he comes from, too, he's got an idea of what it takes to conceal things and trick people.]

I'd say we're going to have to deal with her anyway, so I don't have much optimism for you there. But I will say that if she was just going to kill them, she would've done it already. Why bother even giving us the chance to fight back if it's revenge? We'd suffer more knowing we never could have done anything. The "give hope then snatch it away" tactic is what stupid people do because they miscalculated their enemies, but Drummond lost once before, she knows what she's dealing with.

[Spoken as if he's intimately familiar with people with Drummond's kind of mindset.] But considering what she's capable of, I don't think it's unreasonable she could've covered her magic signature. Illusion magic - sensory trickery, that kind of thing, I have trouble believing someone skilled enough in it wouldn't be able to conceal that. I do think she's gonna be cooling down after a spell that big, though, even someone as powerful as her.

[This is a spell of massive magnitude - a single Witch, or even a small group of them, wouldn't just be able to throw it out casually.]

[getting_better]

And that's exactly what's bothering me. Why. Why put them to sleep if terrorism was her intent? [ He sighs, clearly troubled and weary. ] A part of me kinda wishes she just committed plain old terrorism. I'm sorry, I know that sounds terrible but this...this is arguably worse.

[ The line between those who are 'good' and 'bad' are clearly drawn, but the line between 'bad' and 'terrible' hasn't. ]

...But I suppose it doesn't matter right now. We need to get people to safety first. Just give them a quick look over, heal up any cuts or injuries that drew blood, then meet me over by the other house.

[ He says as he stands to leave but not before putting a hand on Momo's shoulder. ]

You're saving these people.

[ It's not much, but it's all he can say to help Momo with what Bishop had asked him to do. ]

[yesdoubt]

It's revenge. This won't be the end of it, I guarantee it. Only she knows what will satisfy her as retribution. [In a sense, an act of terrorism would've been more clear in terms of what it encompassed, whereas this is going to have them guessing at the next step until it comes. He imagines Drummond knows they'll come after her for this, so there has to be a second part to it, and it'll more than likely be aimed at the Mirrorbound if not also the Aefenglom Coven.

But that's a thought for later, much like a lot of what else has happened today, and he spares a glance for Bishop's hand on his shoulder when he puts it there before just letting out a long, hefty breath.]

I know. But justifying it was never the problem. [He's done some pretty nasty things for the sake of protecting people before. It's just that back home, there's never been an instance where it's had to escalate to outright killing anyone. The closest is when he almost maimed someone with a metal bat for spreading media gossip about Yuki, and he got talked out of that before he could really act on it. It really is just the knowledge of having ended someone's life that he has to let settle sometime later when he has breathing room.]

So go ahead. I'll be fine here. ["Fine" in the sense that he can put this all away until the end of the battle like he was intending to. Regardless of the answer, he steps forward away from Bishop's hand and starts to look over the sleeping people, crouching to heal any visible wounds he spots.]

[getting_better]

[ If only he could believe it were that simple. Revenge as a motive, sure, but why bother putting them to sleep? Find recruits? No, because these people are just running around and no one is collecting them. Pure chaos? There's a thousand simpler ways to do that.

She gains something from all this but doesn't know what, but he can figure it out later.

After the exchange with Momo he goes and does what he said he'll do, open the next house but as he walks over Bishop can't help but mull over the situation. The answer is in the people's sleep but he has no way of figuring out or even gleaming what's happening in their heads. All he can do and should do is focus on the task at hand.

There was a sudden rumble that lightly shook the area, probably a battle breaking out nearby. Other Mirrorbound most likely, and he gets to work on the door. ]