Intro Log: October 2020

[faileas]

Intro Log: October

I. ARRIVAL Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the higher floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion, along with those which feel to resemble yourselves in a world-traversing sense: Mirrorbound, they're called. "My goodness. In the middle of the month! We weren't expecting you, we weren't!" The woman smiles broadly, with her Bonded glancing over the newly arrived and those who may have followed them in to volunteer explanations and assistance to the newest addition of their Mirrorbound bunch. "Let's get through the introductions, shall we? This here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament, and of course, my Bonded. And I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven -- but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds with a wink. "I know you must all be tired and confused after all that. We're here to help get you settled, dearest. Let me just..." With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have. We will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." NOTE: If you wish to handwave interaction with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. All responses will be summarized answers rather than an IC thread. For those that'd like a more player-based interaction, Aefenglom has its own Welcome Wagon! These are players who've volunteered for the role, and those that didn't sign up may assist as well if they'd feel their character would -- have fun, and make friends. Additionally, those with notable injuries or sickness will be attended to ASAP by Coven-based witches, and should anyone be curious about what they are -- namely, if they have magic potential or not -- then this can be done during this and the general hour or so the new arrivals are within the Coven's grounds. There are ongoing classes on magic, monsters, and Bonding as well, though they take place more during the day than at night. Feel free to have your characters attend them at any time!

III. THE HAVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, it's time to make the trek to where you'll be staying. As you're leaving -- with Coven and/or Mirrobound escorts as guides -- you'll be given a peculiar-looking device. It's a very special watch, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament. These watches are passed around to all the new arrivals, who are given a quick rundown on their functions and encouraged to test them out when they can. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live, free of cost. The Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in a program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra -- like maids, chefs, and so on -- they'll have to pay for them with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services. Much of the housing already has furnishing as well: standard items such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind by the relocated owners for those moving in. Though some are fairly newly-unoccupied, the dust on the floors of other houses suggests they were left long before the new arrivals even showed up -- a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use them for -- so long as the legality isn't questionable, at least on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses -- and even some of the smaller ones, or the shared rooms in the barracks -- the Coven put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven a while back. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It simply reads the information you've offered up yourself -- or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs if you prefer! The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up throughout the month as well! While new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the October's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans or if you have any other questions, just let the mods know here!

Comments

[beariot]

"It's best described as an infection, one that attacks all manner of organic material. There's no real way to cure it, only to purge it. Infection corrupts its victim, and they become subject to some ravenous, collective will to further destroy and spread the infection."

It was exactly as horrid as it had sounded, given what she had witnessed first hand.

"There are those called Wilders who deliberately go out to push back and research the Cwyld, and it has been known to appear in the parts of the city beyond the Bright Wall, but just like us Mirrorbound, much of our understanding of the Cwyld is limited, at best."

[roombamastermind]

"... I see. So it's like some kind of magical blight. It affects you more than just physically, and pushes you to become a spreader," she said. "But I see. I take it you're very much dedicated to stopping it where you can, yes?"

She knew Chariot would never abide that kind of suffering.

[beariot]

"I've done what research I can, and most of my studies have been focused on the astrological approaches to the situation, seeing what, if any, impact cosmic energies might have on the situation."

Sticking to her specialty.

[roombamastermind]

"That sounds like you," Croix said with a nod. "I suppose I'll have to figure out if my own expertise has any impact on matters at hand... though I suppose I need a bonding partner, don't I?"

Croix let out a soft "hmm". Everyone had told her she needed to get to know someone first, but her natural drive left her feeling anxious. That was probably more than immediately evident, both from her tone and the way Croix carried herself.

[beariot]

Chariot's look softened as that topic carried over... She supposed there was no avoiding it, was there?

"Don't... Don't rush into that, Croix. Don't feel like you have to," Chariot sighed, coming to a stop at the corner.

"You're a Witch, right? You'll notice when the build-up starts..."

[roombamastermind]

Croix sucked in a deep breath.

"I'm not going to rush into it," she replied. "I just... I don't want to be useless, you know? But it seems like a big responsibility, too. Part of me wants to get it over with, while the other part of me doesn't think I deserve to have that sort of connection with someone."

She let out a sigh. "That leaves the practical part of me to try and deal with both of them."

[beariot]

"You're carrying a lot with you, into this place," Chariot started walking again, heading towards the now visible front of the cafe she'd mentioned earlier.

"I did to... I'm not sure I can really help ease any of it, but you know... I'm here. If you need anything, I'm willing to help."

[roombamastermind]

Carrying a lot with her. That almost seemed like an understatement. Nevertheless, Chariot's reassurance did its job, and Croix smiled as she moved in step beside her.

"I'll be sure to remember that," she said fondly. "But enough about me. I want to know what you've been up to. Surely everyone's idol has had people wanting to bond with her left and right."

Her tone was teasing, but Croix had no idea how much that may or may not reflect reality.

[beariot]

Croix had so much... hopeful joy in that joke. Like she was really wishing for her inquiry to have an answer that would bring some joy of some sort. And in some ways, maybe Chariot could give an answer like that, but...

It wasn't. Not wholly. Not honestly. Not the sort of sincerity that Croix needed from her, the sort that would help bridge the canyon between them they were so desperate to fill again.

"Croix, before we sit down, I just need you to know I've been here over a year now... and a lot has happened," Chariot spoke in a quieter tone, her voice soft but carrying with it a likely familiar apprehension, that sort of anxious energy that seemed to hang around Chariot at all times.

[roombamastermind]

Croix regretted her joke before Chariot even spoke up, thanks to the reaction written on her friend's face. Her own expression turned serious, and she nodded.

"I expected that much," she said. "But it's not the first time that time has set us on different paths. I can accept that you're different now."

[beariot]

How different was more the question...

By the time they'd been seated, and made their orders, Chariot let out a long sigh, eyes not... really able to make contact with Croix's own.

They kind of just kept looking at her cane.

"Do you want me to start from the beginning?"

[roombamastermind]

Croix settled into her seat, and looked at Chariot with concern. She sort of follows the other woman's gaze to her cane out of the corners of her eyes, but she doesn't turn towards it.

"That'd be best, I think."

[beariot]

"Well...," Chariot hums, and somehow, despite how somber the mood had been and still was, she managed a small smile, a mirthful little hum in her voice.

"The first thing I did when I arrived here, within the Dream, was fall right on my face in front of Ozymandias. I feel like that sort of set the tone for my life here."

She went on to detail other things, of course. Her first Lethe celebration and getting drunk on spiced wine that made her way more amorous than she would be normally, the two women she met at that festival (a turnskin named Fang and a chimera named Kaede) that would go on to become her Bonded. She spoke fondly of the mentor-like relationship she had with a tragic, teenage girl named Monika that grew into more, how she eventually adopted the girl as her daughter. She told Croix about the city of Dorchact, its deposed ruler Morgana, and how she'd started a school for the refugee monster children that had been released from chattel slavery as a result of Morgana's downfall.

She told her of the spike in xenophobic sentiment among Aefenglom's ruling class that eventually lead to one family staging a widespread kidnapping and... torture. Of several Mirrorbound. Herself and Fang, included. That was where the injury had come from, the thing that necessitated her using the cane. She was notable sparse on the details, reluctant to discuss them too deeply, and even threatened tears at points. The trauma was still very real to her, but she tried to fight past it, to at least let Croix know she had come to the disability she now had.

She told her of her research into the cosmos of the world, the mythology behind it, how it fueled her search for answers as to why the Mirrorbound were there, how they factored into the greater cosmic plan for the world around them. How frustrated she was at a lack of meaningful answers.

She told her about Akko, how they bonded in the absence of Diana, who had been there previously. She told her about Monika's girlfriend Natsuru, how precious the two were. She told her about Ozymandias' "purramid" cafe, with the little divine beast kittens inhabiting it, how she'd learned the summoning spell herself just from watching him.

She told her that most of Aefenglom still knew her as Ursula Callistis. That her anxieties drove her to that identity as a comfort blanket in the presence of a strange world.

She told her of joy, of grief. A family she had formed here of her own.

She neglected to mention her love life. Oops.

[roombamastermind]

Croix sat and she listened. And the more she did, the more amazed she was, both of how far Chariot had come, and for all she'd endured. Her heart burned with anger and guilt when she heard about the torture and the injury, and it caused her to grip the edges of their table until her knuckles were white.

And of course, there was doubt and regret. Doubt that she had any right to sympathize with Chariot, after all she herself had put her through. And doubt that she still deserved a place in her life after she'd accomplished so much and brought so many people into her life here. And then there was the regret that she'd not been there to help her through any of it.

When her story was done, despite everything running through her own head, Croix couldn't help but reach forward and place her hands over Chariot's own.

"You've come so far, Chariot," she said. "You've been through so much. I don't know what to say, except... I'm in awe of you, right now."

[beariot]

"I... don't know about that," Chariot felt her face grow hot, reaching to brush some of her hair back.

"I'm not sure if I've actually... m-made progress here, on who I am as a person, on becoming someone who 'shines' for others again, but... I have survived. And found a place for myself here. A place that you are... welcome to be a part of, for however long you need it, Croix."

[roombamastermind]

"Making a place for yourself... finding something like that, it's not nothing," Croix responded.

She thought for a few moments longer, before sitting back and nodding. "I'm glad you're willing to let me be a part of it. Thank you."

[beariot]

Chariot's expression softened, and she shook her head.

"You don't need to thank me... Honestly, I know we've got a ways to go, to fix...," she gestured between them. "This. This version of 'us' that's here right now. But I definitely wouldn't get anything but more worry and anxiety if I had to just sit back and watch you try to get by all on your own, even if I know, logically, you're perfectly capable."

[roombamastermind]

"... You believing in me, that's something I'm going to have to get used to," Croix replied with a short 'heh'. "I... I've gotten by on my own for most of my life, and it led be down some dark places. Regardless of whether I thank you or not, it's still comforting to know I don't have to go in that direction again."

[beariot]

Chariot's expression was still soft, but part of her smile faded, turning to look out the cafe window into the street.

"Trust me... I'm not about to let that rift grow between us again, if I can help it. What I'd said during that dream... it's still true. I still carry the hurt you left in me, but I also still carry the guilt of everything I did, too. And I know there's no path to healing in pushing you away, so..."

[roombamastermind]

Croix stopped herself from sucking in a deep breath. She didn't like that Chariot blamed herself, but at the same time, she didn't want to tell her her feelings were invalid. They had to respect where each of them were, right now.

"All I know is that I still want you in my life too," she said. Then, after a moment, "So where do we go from here, then? Perhaps... perhaps there's something we could work on together?"

Collaborating again. That would be something.

[beariot]

"Well... as it turns out, I could always use more help at the refugee school. And the school for the orphanage we're setting up. That is, of course, assuming you still want to be involved in education..."

That worked for the meantime, at least. Working together to solve some of the greater issues of the world, though...

[roombamastermind]

Croix's eyes lit up with intrigue. A chance to be a teacher again? For real this time? Chariot really was serious about giving her another chance, considering what she did with the position last time.

"... I'd like that," she said, smiling. "I'd need to be brought up to speed on your intentions for it though. It shouldn't take much, I'm a quick study after all."