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

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Impressive. Berserker isn't the easiest to impress in battle, but Momo's skill would impress even the most hardened solider. With the necromancer dead, the bodies of the undead drop. It eliminates a significant threat, temporarily ensuring the safety of the sleeping residents of Dorchacht.

That wasn't the only necromancer under Morgana's employ, of course. Berserker flies up above the rooftops again to avoid getting hit by any of the living members of the attacking insurgents. ]

There are more...I don't know if they'll be expecting that again. You're prepared to continue, aren't you?

[ Seemingly endless battles...Unfortunately a familiar situation for the dragon. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo settles again once he's let off his shot so he doesn't fall off when Berserker climbs again, keeping his eyes on the battlefield. Even if he can't do it as sharply from up here, he's one of those people who has trouble just sitting back between attacks.

Or sitting idle at all, really, which is why he doesn't hesitate in finding an answer to that question.]

Of course. I'm not planning to stop until the battle is over, whatever ends up happening. They deserve to pay for dragging innocents into this.

[Momo is pretty straightforward about this kind of thing. One-to-one revenge still would've had him taking Dorchacht's side, but it's the involvement of innocents that has him this livid.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Good.

[ The next time they go in for an attack, it might not be as easy.From this distance, it's a little harder to spot individual targets, but it's easy to see where the fighting is clustered. Another area of what seems to be heavy combat isn't too far away. Berserker tries to find the source of the waves of undead -- it's not as clear as before.

He descends quickly, wings tucked against his body. ]

We might have to fight on the ground...Stay close to me if that happens. I'll make sure you survive.

[yesdoubt]

[Given that, Momo drops his arm with the awareness he probably won't be doing any distance shots, but while he holds ready to prepare a spell if he needs to, he's not committing to one until it's clearer where they'll be fighting from. He's spotting across the ground as well, but the number of things moving around down there makes spotting alive individuals much harder than it should be.]

I'm way more experienced with fighting melee than long-range, at least. But with numbers like that it'll be best to have each others' backs.

[Not that he imagines Berserker will need it as much, but Momo's not very good at the whole one-sidedly taking help and not at least trying to return it thing.]

I lost this notif, I'm so sorry!

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker more or less lands in the center of the melee, scattering the group and only adding to the chaos. He keeps himself low to the ground to give Momo an easier time getting off him. His tail sweeps away anyone too close.

Not an ideal situation to fight in, but not the worst. ]

I can manage better than you...Focus on the fight, not on me.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo gives a bit of a tired grin at that, as if he's heard that kind of request before.] Easier said than done.

[He's never been very good at not focusing on allies in any sort of combative or competitive situation. Let alone focusing on his own condition. At the very least, though, it's unlikely to be an insurmountable issue unless Berserker gets injured, so for now he leaps from his back and throws himself quite readily into the fight.

He's using considerably less magic this time, though, mostly just mercilessly beating on things with his bare hands and going for the throat in both the figurative and literal senses. Any thralls that are on the larger side he figures Berserker will be more interested in dealing with, but if they get too close to him he does take a safer distance and go for a more close-range icicle lobbing spell. Having agility serves him well in the chaos, since he's able to see routes of travel even within the crowded area.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker throws his weight around quite literally, slamming his side into those that get to close. Most of the raised dead get crushed beneath his claws, other are torn apart by his sharp teeth. He's hesitant to use his poison, if only because it's unlikely their enemies will be affected by it.

His plates and scales provide good coverage from their attacks; most weapons just glance off of him. A well-placed spear -- a generous term for a sharpened wooden stake -- pierces a spot between his plates on his thigh. There's not even a sound of pain as he retaliates with an immediate reprisal, tearing apart the unfortunate assailant with his sharp teeth.

The stake remains in his leg for now. No time to stop and tend to the wound. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo's head turns sharply when the wooden stake lands, but since Berserker doesn't seem too bothered by it for the moment, Momo forces it down his priority list so he can keep pressing on. This lot seem to have a lot of thralls, but he doesn't necessarily have to actually reach the necromancers to kill them.

He spots one of them through the mess, a few more thralls between him and them. Dodging and weaving, trying to find a good angle to strike from as he prepares another icicle spell, Momo ends up leaping and practically climbing up the back of a hunched, injured Turnskin to get enough clearance over heads that he can shoot for the necromancer. The shot crunches into his neck at speed, impact breaking it, and scattered thralls among the mob drop to the ground at the same time the necromancer does. Thankfully including the one Momo is standing on, once he jumps off.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Another brief reprieve. The other agitators seem to lose their nerve without the backup from the undead masses and start to flee. Berserker again ignores his injury as he lashes out towards the stragglers. A few successfully escape, but more are either crushed beneath his feet or torn apart by his jaws. ]

...Pull that out, would you?

[yesdoubt]

[Momo is somewhat grateful for some of the weirder injuries he's encountered during his healings in the Outer City now, because otherwise he'd be a bit lost on where to start with pulling a stake out and not causing any further damage. That had been part of the reason he started working out there, though - not much point knowing healing magic if you don't have practical experience.

So once they have a clear area for the moment, Momo doesn't hesitate to come to his side and lay a gentle hand on the stake. As much as his mind tends to go elsewhere when fighting, he'll always be drawn back to helping others as soon as the opportunity arises.]

I should be able to close the wound for you too, better than dropping blood everywhere the rest of the fight. [But moving the stake will have to be first priority, and after gently shifting it back with both hands to get an idea of how deep and how stuck it is, he slowly and carefully begins to pull it out.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

If you insist.

[ If it hurts, the dragon shows no signs of it. Pain is something he's learned to endure in order to survive the endless battles he was a part of once long ago. It's part of what made him so terrifying; even the worst of injuries were simply shrugged off as he slaughtered anyone that stood in his way. ]

...Who are you, anyway?

[ The lull in the battle allows for at least a brief introduction. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Once the stake comes free of where it was lodged, Momo tosses it aside and then scrawls what looks vaguely like runes on his forearms, except they're not quite right for it. It's the way he generally focuses his magic, because he finds physical motions and the act of writing something related to the spell works better for him than speaking.

The shapes sink into his skin, and his hands take on a pale glow. He begins to move them over the wound area, knitting together what he can of the damage on short notice and when he's trying not to use too much magic at once given the fight's far from over.]

My name's Momo. [He's...probably introduced himself in weirder situations than this, but this is still up there. Still, he offers a small smile while they've got some breathing room.] What about you? Since I'm probably gonna have trouble recognising you if we meet again when you're a bit more person-shaped.

[He hasn't actually seen any of the other dragons he knows assume a full shift, but he does know certain Monsters can do it and that it's probably not very feasible to maintain full-time.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Ciarán Cú. You'll be able to recognize me...The scales under my eyes match my facial tattoos.

[ Small favors, that.

Berserker gingerly puts weight on his leg, the wound sufficiently closed enough for him. The pain is there, but that's fine -- he can endure that much. ]

I don't know how much longer this lull will last...Let's go before they catch us by surprise.

[yesdoubt]

Oh, yeah, that'll work. [Momo's fairly good at recognising people in different environments, he was just concerned about the dragon to person aspect. But if there are significant markings that carry over, then that makes his life a whole lot easier.

He wraps up the healing fairly quickly, given he's trying to balance what he's putting into it, and nods once Berserker suggests they get out while the getting is good.]

Agreed, I'm not in the mood to get ambushed. Ready when you are. [He moves to climb up onto Berserker's back again, the movement agile almost like a cat or dog.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

Let's go...

[ It's almost cute the way he springs up...But there's no time to think about that now. Berserker takes off again with no sign of being slowed by his injury. It may have just been a quick patch job, but it worked and that's all that matters.

What lay ahead of them were numerous more battles, but the numbers were dwindling, at least. A long, exhausting night...But it was worth it to try to stop the insurrection. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo, for one, is willing to keep fighting for as long as it takes to end the chaos. As exhausting as it might be, he'll push himself through until the city is safe again and they can put their minds to solving the problem.

So he keeps his eyes ahead and down, looking out for whatever's going to come next. There's an end on the horizon, somewhere.]