Intro Log: November & Event: Nothing to Be Drone About It

[faileas]

Intro Log: November & Event: Nothing to Be Drone About It

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 others have found yourselves in, along with... several items, perhaps even creatures scattered across the floor around other mirrors? 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. 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. "Just a few of you this month, hm? Don't mind the junk across the floor where you came out, someone is sorting that!" The woman sets her hands on her hips, with her Bonded casting a glance at those looking confused - newly arrived - and those who may have followed them in to talk to the newest addition of their mirrorbound bunch. "About time for introductions though- this here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament and my Bonded, and I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven - but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds, winking. "The lot of you must be as tired and confused as the last batch - hullo to those who've joined us, too! - so just a moment, dearests, I'll set all you right up—" 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 interact with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here for a handwaved, summarized answer to your character's burning questions. 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 - if they have magic potential, or if they swing a different way - 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 a trek to where you'll be staying while Nessie and Mhairi continue to search for a solution to the situation. As you're leaving with a few Bonded for guides, peculiar-looking devices - watches, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament - are passed around to all the new arrivals; they're given a quick rundown on their functions and bid 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 - 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 themselves 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 due to its roots as part of a district that already did. Much of the housing already has furnishing due to the speed at which homeowners were relocated; they were given enough time to collect their valuables, but standard furniture such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind for those moving in. Other houses appear the same, but the dust on the floors suggest these houses were left 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 it for - so long as the legality isn't questionable, on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses - and even some of the smaller ones, and the shared rooms in the barracks - the Witches put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven. 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 reads simply the information you've offered up yourself, or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

IV. Nothing to Be Drone About It While a handful of mirrors in the Looking Glass House at 3 am on the 15th spat out people - new Mirrorbound or perhaps returned Mirrorbound - many other mirrors poured forth items or small creatures, all on their own. The night cleaner resigns himself to a long night as he has to deal with mess and confused folk, but he isn't terribly surprised. It was around this time last year that something similar happened with the mirrors. They may not understand it, but it looks like it may be a pattern, relics of the Mirrorbound's lives reaching out to them from home as gift or curse. The night cleaner fetches Miss Nessie to handle the arrival of a handful of new Mirrorbound, and then returns to start tidying up everything else. Luckily, she assigns him some help in the form of a young Witch named Emmelie, eager to prove herself. Not wanting to crowd the Looking Glass House, in the ensuing hours, she turns to an invention of hers to sort out the stuff littering the room with the mirrors. The goal, of course, is to get each item back to its rightful owner, and she firmly believes in better living through magic innovation! Unfortunately, it becomes clear fairly soon that Emmelie's brass flying saucers, which she had hoped would effortlessly deliver each item based on magical signature matching, could use a little... fine-tuning. The big saucers complete with six segmented mechanical 'arms' to hold the cargo in place are persistent as they zip around the city, often trying to take the shortest path to their programmed destination - whether it means they bump endlessly into barriers such as walls, get stuck on rooftops or in the River Temese, or knock over people, natives and Mirrorbound alike, who happen to be in their flight path. Some of them end up at the wrong Mirrorbound, and bump incessantly into them until they take the offered item, uncaring if they're who it belongs to or not. Of course, some deliveries go smoothly, exactly as they are intended to, but... they're in the minority. By the early afternoon, Emmelie is sending out a voice message that can be heard by Mirrorbound anywhere in the city, her young voice panicked as she explains what happened with her inventions and your mementos of home, adding at the end: "Ahh, it's such a mess! Look, you've got to help me, and please don't tell Miss Nessie, she'll never trust me with anything important ever again! I'll owe all of you so much if you'll just help find and return everything to where it needs to go!"

Welcome to November's combo Intro Log and event! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs. 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 as well right over here at November's Quest Pickup thread. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[alpina]

[ While he's chattering her ear off, she's still looking around and trying to get the lay of the land, though. Unlike Sougo, who probably knows this place like the back of his hand now, there was so much to learn about...well, everything.

Her eyes are scanning each of the buildings, the sky, everything around them while dodging the occasional flying saucer (?!?!?!) that whizzes by. ]

What are these things that are attack----

[ And it is while she is dodging yet another flying saucer which seems to be aimed right at her shoulder that she notices a familiar back. ]

Geiz?!

[geiz]

[ Hearing his name being called out, Geiz stops in his tracks and turns to look around before spotting both Tsukuyomi and Sougo.

He sighs and heads over to them, annoyed that it had taken him so long to find them and spot them ]

Where have you two been?

[ He has no clue that Sougo has been here longer. Yet he kind of does because he remembers bits and pieces of this place, but he can't be sure if that was some dream or not. He'll ask Sougo about it later ]

Did anything happen to either of you here?

[timenace]

[ While the saucers are certainly a new addition, they seem largely harmless, as the worst they've been doing is bumping into people as they whizz about. Sougo is so used to strange happenings in this world that he's largely been tuning them out, stepping aside as needed, and focusing almost entirely on his friend instead.

He can figure out the mystery behind them another time if he needs to, because it's certainly not the most pressing concern to him right now.

Two pressing concerns, as it turns out. The minute that Tsukuyomi calls out to Geiz, Sougo's head is whipping around, his face lighting up once more like it's Christmas morning and he's come to see the biggest presents imaginable under the tree. Geiz won't even have to close the full gap himself, because Sougo is definitely trotting towards his other friend.

He feels a little overwhelmed by all of this, but the questions throw him for something of a loop. He figured Geiz would remember some of this from the dream he had, but... maybe not? ]

Ah... for me it's a long story, but...?

[ He looks back at Tsukuyomi. While he's been with her for a good chunk of her short time here, it's not like he arrived with her. It's always possible something happened and he'd been so caught up on catching her up that he failed to find that out.

[alpina]

[ She's looking between the two of them like there was something going on there that she may have missed then shakes it off and smiles at the two of them. Could just treat this like they went back in time, their time mazin malfunctioned and spat them somewhere strange.

With these two here, nothing too bad could happen, surely. Someone please tell her she's about to turn into a fish. ]

All I know is we came through these mirrors. I met a few others who said the same thing happened to them. You can kinda see home through them but you can't really reach them or go back through it? There has to be some key there, everyone's mirror designs look different.

[geiz]

[ Yeah, Geiz looks around some more as Sougo reaches his side; he can recognize more and more from that strange dream he'd had . . . had he somehow already been here? He's not sure what it all means but it helps that both Tsukuyomi and Sougo are here. Their presence does a lot to soothe his nerves and whatever worries he has about this situation ]

. . . I think I've been here before.

[ he admits, finally. But he's looking back and forth between Tsukuyomi and Sougo as he says this, gauging their reactions a bit ]

I just recognize a lot of this.

[timenace]

[ Geiz's confession is kind of a relief to hear, even if there's still a lot to have to fill both of his friends on. Sougo's face lights up at that comment none-the-less, and he nods enthusiastically. Both of them have it right here. ]

Whatever the key is I don't think anyone really knows yet. To be honest, I've been here for months now and I don't have any idea to get back to our world.

[ He frowns at that, because it's not fun to admit. ]

Oh, but Geiz... you remember the dream, right? Things probably looked a little different, because they were sort of distorted in the dream, but it's similar, right?

[alpina]

[ She's looking between the two, slight confusion and slight frustration easily showing on her face as she isn't quite following what they're saying. Was it a dream they were talking about? Or some kind of shared vision? Because it certainly doesn't sound like a dream.

It was frustrating enough that the two of them could transform and fight, they were now sharing things in a new world that she wasn't privy too as well. female rider problems ]

You two have experience together in this world togetheralready?

[geiz]

I don't know. It was a dream or something, Tsukuyomi.

[ Not that Geiz is really that sure until Sougo confirms it for him. It's odd how some places just look so familiar after having walked around willy nilly that time while dragging Sougo and being dragged by Sougo to different places.

He raises a hand to rub at his temple though, a headache oncoming as he tries to make sense of all of this. He shifts and walks over to Tsukuyomi so he can be closer to her. He hasn't been here as long as Sougo, he hasn't been here for months and months, but he's glad that both Sougo and Tsukuyomi are here with him, even if it's probably dangerous as fuck--- wait a minute.

There's an about face as he turns to Sougo ]

You've been here for months?!

[timenace]

[ Tsukuyomi looks distressed at being left out, Geiz looks agitated, and Sougo is here beaming like a damn fool as his friends piece all of this together. It makes it so much easier for him to have Geiz remember this place, though he knows the residents of this world are pretty good about giving an overview to newcomers at least.

He'll end up having to fill in details as they come, but he can manage that. ]

Mm!

[ He suddenly looks up and to the side a little as a realization hits him. ]

Over half a year now I think? In another couple of months it'll be a full year. Ah, but Tsukuyomi Geiz hasn't actually been here before. He was in a dream--

[ He cuts himself off with a frown. ]

It's a little hard to explain, but you'll probably have one yourself sometime. I think everyone who is a Mirrorbound probably does.

[alpina]

[ This was definitely a right mess that they've all gotten themselves into somehow. Somehow. She wouldn't be surprised if it was some kind of mess the time jackers had thrown them into in order to get rid of them for some kind of devious plan. There was a lot of thinking to do.

She watches Sougo with a thoughtful gaze. ]

You're pretty much assimilated here already haven't you? You know where everything is and you know the terminology for everything...

[ He looks much more comfortable than someone who was essentially kidnapped should. ]

[geiz]

[ It boggles Geiz's mind that Sougo doesn't seem the least bit perturbed by having to stay here for months and months. He sighs-

How many times must he sigh?

It's a good thing that Tsukuyomi is here, though; she can help curb Sougo's instinct to jump into wild and reckless situations.]

. . . what happens now?

[ All he knows is that they're here and they'll probably have to acclimate the best to the situation at hand somehow ]

[timenace]

[ It must be different for new arrivals, though Sougo doesn't remember being quite so exasperated when he first arrived. Then again, Sougo has always been strangely good at rolling with the wild punches that life aims his way. Besides, while he certainly wasn't asked for permission to bring him to this world, it's not like the people of this city are at fault (probably), and he's got no reason to hold a grudge (most likely). He's got no reason to not believe the answers they've given him either.

So Tsukuyomi's question and comment gets a small smile and an equally small shrug of acknowledgement.

As for Geiz's more open ended question... ]

We should probably make sure you guys have a place to stay for now. No one knows how to get back through the mirrors, so we can't leave that easily.

[ He pauses, before adding in. ]

Besides, I think the people here could really use some help before we go.

[alpina]

[ She watches Sougo with a quiet gaze. With that response, she was unsure whether he had been spending this time looking for a way to get home or if he has already just taken it upon himself to fix the world's problems here before he goes back to his own world's problems. ]

The problems that I've heard do seem quite difficult and if we are stuck here then I don't have a problem with lending a hand but... we should prioritize getting home if we can.

[ She doesn't want to seem like she's too unfazed by the plight of this world. Especially when people here have been quite kind to her. ]

There are so many unfinished things at home that we need to...

[geiz]

[ Both of them have good points, so Geiz is not going to choose a side in this. He will stand here with his arms crossed and listen and wait to make his own interjection- once he figures one out. He's really just a soldier. But it's true that they actually do need a place to stay for now. And when a chance to go back home happens, they'll definitely have to take it.

Even if they have to drag Sougo out with them.

But even knowing that doesn't help Geiz much so he's going to do what he always does: take action. And that action is to start memorizing where everything is. He's going to look around a bit, and leave Tsukuyomi and Sougo to discuss the future. ]

[timenace]

[ Two sides make their case before Judge Geiz, who will deliver the final verdict!

Though that won't really be the case at all. Sougo doesn't mind taking both of his friends back into the mirror room to see if they can spot something he didn't, but he's met some extremely clever people that have become stuck here just like them, and if none of them have figured it out either, then he is fairly certain the solution won't come so easily.

Besides, it's not like either of them noticed he was gone, which means time isn't exactly of the essence for them (especially considering their time traveling nature), and he gets about as far as-- ]

Even if we don't get back soon it's...

[ Before trailing off, because he notices Geiz very literally trailing off. He'd love to argue more about the future with Tsukuyomi, but his friends just showed up here, and they don't exactly know where everything is yet. This city is pretty sizable too. That's why Sougo is going to motion Tsukuyomi to follow him as he trots after their other friend. ]

Geiz?

[alpina]

[ And of course he starts to go off and do his own thing. Geiz wouldn't be Geiz if he didn't decide to just charge off on his own of course. She gives her head a little shake and follows on after the two of them. ]

As long as we get back to our home back in the same time nobody will notice we have left.

If there's even a way to calibrate the time we land back home.

[ She sighs a little. Getting way too ahead of herself with that one. ]

As long as there is a way back home.

[geiz]

[ It takes a few seconds for Geiz to realize they're both following him. He turns to face them and crosses his arms, his eyes narrowed as he gives a sigh. He hadn't meant for them to follow him; he figured they would've discussed things out and then come upon a conclusion while he was exploring. If he's going to be here for a while, then it's best to know the layout of the land so that he doesn't have to rely on Sougo to lead him around. ]

Stop following me, I'm trying to memorize everything about this place so I can get around easier.

[ His words are succinct and short as he arches a brow at both of them ]

We'll eventually get home, and time doesn't seem to matter considering Sougo's been here for almost half a year and we didn't notice he was gone back home. So the best thing to do is acclimate.

[timenace]

[ After being here alone for so many months there is absolutely no way that Sougo is letting either of his friends out of his sight at least for the rest of the day. It's probably different for the two of them, however, considering they just arrived here.

He grins at Geiz backing him up, and only adds in the obnoxious correction of-- ]

Over half a year!

[ But he does agree that acclimating makes a lot of sense, especially because getting home is definitely not going to be as fast as Tsukuyomi seems to think it will be. ]

But we should explore together! Tsukuyomi doesn't know her way around yet either!

[alpina]

Well we'll need to figure out a place to stay.

[ Exploring aimlessly wasn't going to really help anybody after all. ]

It's not like we're going to stumble upon a place where we can live and be fed.

[ A short pause before she turns and looks towards the two of them, Sougo in particular. Surely they wouldn't get as lucky here as they did back home. ]

[geiz]

[ They definitely need a place to stay. Someone had mentioned there being barracks here, he thinks it was Tsutha probably. He should've enquired further at the time but hadn't because he'd been in a sort of shock at being here and then also being able to recognize some places in the dream he'd had. But he nods at Tsukuyomi's inquiry and turns to look at Sougo as well ]

Can we stay in the barracks or is there a way we can stay with you?

[ It hasn't been that long that the three of them had coexisted together back at Sougo's place and had even gotten used to it as the days passed by, but there's also another question he has ]

And what kind of currency do people use here to buy things?

[timenace]

[ Tsukuyomi has nothing to worry about on that particular front (and perhaps only on that particular front); before Geiz even has a chance to mention the barracks Sougo is already grinning confidently at her, as if to say "you absolutely will be stumbling upon places to live and be fed", though Geiz really does the heavy lifting for the rest of him.

He gives a brief little nod, chiming in to expand. ]

I already live in the barracks, so it'll be really easy if you want to live there. I can show you around, and they give rooms for free. Not money though.

[ He'll fish around in his pocket to pull some out. ]

They have their own money here, of course, but it's pretty easy to pick up quests to earn some if you want. I guess you can also get a job, but...

[ He trails off in a way to suggest he absolute has made no attempt to get a real job, which shouldn't be much of a surprise given the amount of effort he put into finding a real job back in their world too. ]

[alpina]

[ It's almost a wry smile on her face as she shakes her head a little at Sougo. She can't imagine him doing any sort of work, really. ]

Did they need a king here...?

[ If that kind of role was available he would definitely be all over it. ]

If there's nothing else we can do...we could at least try to help out with what's happening. That could be our way home or at least find us a solution to get home. Is there anything you're currently working on that we can help out with?

[geiz]

I want our own rooms.

[ Is the first thing that pops out of Geiz's mouth as they continue to talk. He would not like sharing a room, he already had to share a room with Woz back home, he does not wish to relive this experience with someone else. Still, he doesn't just leave. He keeps walking, but he slows down just a bit so the other two can keep up ]

But we can still help others out here.

[ He relents on that at least, because protecting people and making sure no one gets hurt is a thing they do. It is their job description as of this moment ]

[timenace]

[ He's technically fulfilled some quests before, but he has largely only picked the ones that sounded personally fun, or allowed him to explore and fight.

So his friends are asking the right person for that particular piece of information.

The question about the need for a king, and the demand for separate rooms makes Sougo laugh before he can actually answer the questions they have. ]

I don't think anyone is looking for one, but there shouldn't be any problem getting your own room. I have my own room at the barracks.

As for how we can help...

[ He hums thoughtfully to himself. ]

There are lots of ways, honestly? But I usually go with expedition groups whenever one sets out.

[alpina]

[ As much as this situation is very strange and frustrating. It was a good idea to make the best of what they could here and she nods at that suggestion. She likely wouldn't be much help in an expedition. That was definitely more a Rider kind of situation...

She's sure that she'll find something else that she can help with in due course. ]

Then let's go get settled and then plan a course of action from there. At the very least, find something to eat.

...Have you found someone who likes to feed you yet?