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

[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. ]

[yesdoubt]

[Momo works through the sleeping citizens, methodical but trying to be at least somewhat quick about it. While he doesn't want to miss any injuries, he doesn't want to spend too long in here when there's still people out there in direct danger.

He's still in the room, just finishing up when he feels that rumble, turning his head sharply before wrapping up the last healing spell and heading out, making sure the door is shut and secure behind him. He feels it's less likely the chaos raisers will come this way because there's ostensibly fewer people to terrorise than there are on the main streets, but he also isn't taking that risk with lives.

It doesn't take him long after that to catch up to where Bishop is.] Any sign of what that rumble was, or do you think it's just another fight?

[getting_better]

[ He closes his eyes and listens when Momo inquired about the tremor. The good thing about being a witch attuned to wind and shape shifting into an owl is that his hearing is a hundred times better than what anyone else could have. It only took a minute of careful listening to roughly pinpoint the source. ]

Other Mirrorbound. A monster by the sounds of it. My guess is a dragon or a chimera. Speaking of.

[ He raises a finger to his lips and using some illusion magic, he formed some Japanese characters for Momo to read. ]

Be quiet. I can hear something breathing pretty heavily inside this house. It's rough so I can't tell what's behind the door, but ready a spell to stop whoever is in there.

[ Once he was finished, Bishop stood and readied his gun then counted down with his fingers. Three....two...one...opened the door and raised his gun while quickly entering. There was nothing in the dark room that suggested something about to attack, but there was some whisper of labored breathing.

Bishop signaled for Momo to watch his back as he went further in, pausing then peeking up into the stairwell as he approached it. The sound was a bit more audible now as they approached what looks to be the kitchen where he found the sleeping body of a turnskin boy on the floor, a quick check indicated he was fine and not the source of the breathing. The closer they drew to the kitchen however, the sickly sweet smell of blood filled the air.

Drawing closer, Bishop waited and turned into the kitchen just as he was taught in the army, while creating a light to show them what was the source. A turnskin woman lying with her front angled to the floor, a pool of blood around her, and a knife placed in her gut. ]

Son of a bitch!

[yesdoubt]

[Momo leans back slightly when he's silenced so Bishop has room to write the message, his eyes narrowing as he scans the words. Somewhere, he notes Bishop's apparent fluency in Japanese, since he would've figured English was his native language - though he supposes with a job like Bishop seems to have had, multiple language fluency might be necessary.

In any case, he nods once he's done, settling into position behind Bishop as he counts them off and prepping for a quick barrier to stop short anyone who might try to escape. His heart sinks at the sight of a child once they get near the kitchen area, but the fact that he's not the source of the sound is both reassuring and not, especially since he can smell the blood as well the nearer they get.

He can't stop himself from moving as soon as he sees the woman on the floor, though - if she was breathing, then he might still be able to save her, and he pulls his knife out as he darts past Bishop and into the kitchen.]

Watch my back! [They don't know what caused this - or even if it could've been an accident, someone falling on their knife when the sleep spell happened. Either way, he uses his own knife to cut across the back of one of his hands and start drawing the usual types of quick written scrawls he uses for his spellcasting on his arms in blood this time - healing spells for something like this tend to need a bit more than just the magic itself.

He turns her over so the pressure doesn't push the knife in any deeper, immediately moving his fingers in a deliberate pattern around the wound so the magic can stem the flow of blood and draw from his own to replace some of what's been lost, so he'll be able to withdraw the knife without her bleeding out. This is not an ideal spell to be having to cast in the midst of a battle that's nowhere near over, but he couldn't live with himself if he didn't at least try to save her.]

[getting_better]

[ He was a bit alarmed when Momo cut across his hand but the clear intent in that action let him know that he knew what he was doing and left that rescue to him whilst Bishop turned toward the door with his gun still raised. ]

It looks like she fell on her knife when the spell first occurred.

[ Quick glances around the room suggest that to be the likely cause. A pot of burned food, small embers along the wood of the cook fire, vegetables chopped into chunks scattered across the floor near her, and a chopping board that clattered to the opposite side. ]

How's she doing?

[yesdoubt]

[Considering Momo doesn't get ambushed for going to help, he's more prone to assume it's an accident after that initial few moments too, but he's too busy focusing on working the spell to give too much thought to it besides nodding slightly when Bishop suggests it.

He grips the knife by the handle and slowly withdraws it, the spell holding any further loss of blood at bay until it's gone and he can start actually knitting the wound with his magic. It's going to take a few minutes, going from the deeper internal damage to the surface, but Momo definitely seems less visibly worried as the healing goes on.]

Way better. Normally she'd probably need to sleep off a spell like this for the next twelve hours or so, but she'll be doing that anyway as far as we know.

[Healing magic tends to take some from the caster and some from the target if it's not a revival - she might be very hungry when she wakes up, if it takes enough out of her, but hungry is better than dead. Momo bore most of the cost for this one, but he's so stubborn about ever showing anything that might make someone worry that it's hard to tell beyond the blood sigils.]

[getting_better]

[ He grunts in response, relieved by the news. ]

At the very least we'll save her the trauma of being stabbed and nearly bleeding out.

[ He says while peeking out into the hall and listening for any new noises around the area. ]

We're all clear here. No one else on this floor but the four of us. I'll go sweep the upstairs.

[ Is all he says. He'd normally give more instructions but he can trust Momo to act accordingly in this time. He's proven himself more capable than he lets on, but he's also not a soldier nor is Bishop his superior. Besides, throwing himself into the unknown is his job anyway.

Not that there was anything in particular to be wary of in this home. Aside from how light his steps were as he ascended the stairs, Bishop didn't find anything that would threaten them or to be alarmed over which was made clear by how he audibly came down the stairs with his arms filled with blankets. ]

All clear. There was an old man, a older girl, and male up on the second floor. I presume they're the rest of the family, and I've put them on beds in their rooms.

[ Or what he thought are their rooms. ]

I found these blankets for the rest so they're not lying directly on the dirt when we bring them in. How we doing here?

[yesdoubt]

[Bishop's departure gives Momo time to finish up the spell - he has to make sure that it doesn't leave a scar, too, otherwise it might cause problems when she wakes up and realises what happened. By the time the other man gets back, Momo has moved her close to her child and is cleaning up the pool of blood so neither mother or child ends up traumatised by seeing that upon awakening.

He raises his head from his work when Bishop speaks, and since he's about done doing what he was doing, straightens up from his crouched position.]

Fine, I just thought I'd better get rid of the blood so they don't wake up and see it. If you've found that stuff, then we may as well start bringing the others in.

[Since they've dealt with the immediate problem here and no longer have a prospective death on their hands.]