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

[unyieldingmarch]

That's perfectly fine. We'll be hitting the foe from the rear.

[And she knows damn well how to make an entrance at this point.]

Are you prepared, Lightning? Once I move, I'll be exposed and counting on you.

[sparkstrikes]

[She stretches her arm and unsheathes her weapon again, propping the barrel of her gun against her shoulder. It crackles with the smallest bit of burst that seeps from her fingertips.]

Ready as I'll ever be. I've got your back. You just worry about getting them as far from the portal as you can.

[unyieldingmarch]

Good.

[Edelgard's body swirls again as she surges forward, becoming mist as before. The wind and her own momentum carry her forward, and in moments she's among enemy lines. Her body coalesces among another knot of Drummond Loyalists, this time merely disgraced nobles and less of her personal coterie, and the slaughter begins. Sword flashing, vampire claws tearing, she goes hard.

And the confusion makes for quite a shooting gallery.]

[sparkstrikes]

[Lightning has no idea how she does it, but... she follows along anyway, head turned to watch behind her as she follows Edelgard into the fray near the teleporter. Good thing too, because there are two more who come up after her, with enough time for Lightning to channel what she can into her gun, firing bullets charged with magic.

It's about as much as she can do for now.

But then she turns back, standing aside, away from the mess that Edelgard begins to leave behind, and raises the barrel to eye level, aiming with her finger on the trigger, and pulling when she's ready. It knocks one, two, three people to the ground at Edelgard's feet, but there's another Witch who's caught Lightning's attention from the other side of the teleporter, who charges up her own magic.]

Your twelve o'clock.

[Lightning dashes forward, hoping to pincer the Witch and stop her from attacking the teleporter directly.]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard stomps on foes that Lightning drops around her with appreciation for the artistry of the shooting. She can always appreciate an effective artillerist, even if she's more used to archers like Leonie and Ashe taking the field behind her and not gunners. Her boots don't go for kills, but instead hands to prevent spellcasting and grasping fingers tripping her up.

At the warning, there's no hesitation to heed it. She trusts Lightning in this, her experience on the battlefield clear as crystal.

Bellowing a Fodlani war-cry, the Emperor of Adrestia leaps into the air and comes down hard in front of the Witch. The woman is waiting for this and slashes at her with a hand crackling with power, enough to singe the spell-worked shirt and cut a wound in Edelgard's arm as she deflects it with the magic. It wasn't fullproofed against spellcraft like her proper armor, but it at least keeps her arm intact.

A vicious backhand is her followup, staggering the Witch in Lightning's general direction.]

All yours!

[sparkstrikes]

Got her.

[Lightning moves in for a proper hit now. No magic, and no magic bullets either. Just her and her sword that she brings up in a vicious upswing, slicing one of the witch's hands clean off her arm just as she tries to right herself from losing balance. The only thing worse than death is taking a blow like that and having to live through the aftermath.

With a roundhouse kick, she lands her boot against the witch's jaw and sends her reeling backwards before she falls to the ground, unconscious from the shock.]

Think we should throw her through the teleporter?

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes.

[Edelgard doesn't even pause. She stalks over and grabs the woman by the shirt, flinging her bodily through the portal.]

She'll be received and probably questioned. We need clues, and I think our Coven will appreciate that.

[sparkstrikes]

[Lightning tries not to snort under her breath as the woman's limp body is tossed through the portal like a ragdoll and turns her attention back to Edelgard instead once she makes sure that she's properly gone.]

Good. Only way we're ever gonna find out how to take down Morgana is to find someone who's got answers.

[unyieldingmarch]

Yeah.

[Edelgard turns to look out at the chaos in the city, considering where best to apply her talents. She's drenched in blood now, and she can feel it affecting her judgment, so right into the melee is probably not wise. But...]

I believe, Lightning, that I'll remain here to guard the portal. What of you?

[sparkstrikes]

[The question gives her pause.

She hadn't thought about what to do after they'd taken care of some of the Witches, but... when she looks around and hears the distant blasts and continued wreckage of the city, she decides then what it is she needs to do.]

Find some people who need help. Get them to safety. If I bring others back, you can make sure you get them out of here?

[It's about as much as she can do right now.]

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes. I can do that.

[Edelgard turns to look out at the city, her frown deepening.]

I'll remain until the fighting stops. Send refugees through, as you can. They'll get through safely.

[War like this may be grim work, but it's good work. Necessary for this city.]

[sparkstrikes]

Right.

[And just like that, Lightning is off again, taking a step forward to rush into the fray once more, but not before she stops to throw a grateful smile back to Edelgard.]

Thanks for having my back.

[unyieldingmarch]

Of course. Thank you for the same.

[She offers a small smile and a quick salute.]

Good hunting.