intro log: august

[faileas]

Intro Log: August

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 brighter with the absence of the sister moons in the sky - it's the new moon, after all. 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. "There's always a right lot of you coming in, aren't there." 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 insanely colorful seats are summoned; half of them are wooden (sturdy and comfortable besides that), with the rest being misshapen and bag-like. Regardless, the seats fill the foyer and spread out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch, should they have come to check on things. 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. You have the option of handwaving the IC interaction to OOCly ask what questions your character might have for them, for us to summarize an answer for, or you can request an IC thread. Simply specify in your comment's subject and we'll respond accordingly. 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 through a bit of leftover ice and snow 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. LÙNASA Just like three months ago, those new to Aefenglom have found themselves brought to the city in the middle of a celebration. From dusk of Aguril 1st to the dusk of Aguril 3rd, Aefenglom celebrates something fairly special: Lùnasa. Traditionally, Lùnasa celebrates all kinds of traditional marriages sanctioned by Parliament, generally of the arranged kind, and handfastings, a ceremony based more on love and how long it lasts. The Coven's Bonds err on this side of things, though some Witches do have official spouses - Miss Nessie and Mhairi are an example of this, though not everyone marries their Bonded, either. Many of them are made during this festival, prompting the city to dress for the occasion just in case they find themselves in the middle of a ceremony, and just as many of them are formally renewed. Like during Litha, shops offer lovemaking potions, but only to those renewing vows or taking them; smaller fireworks, like sparklers and fountains, are also a common sight. Lùnasa is also home to the city's largest fashion show, showcasing fun and upcoming trends in the city. No experience is required to sign up to show off designs or to model them, and hundreds of tailors and needlework experts come together to quickly make dreams into reality for the end of the festival, when the show happens in genuine. The clothing is often wild and sorted into three categories: children, where those 14 and younger can submit their designs and model them as well; popular, where those 15 and older can do the same to try and vie for the judges' vote on what's in and what's out; and bonding, where all ages aspire to modify and make personal the traditional garbs of marriage and handfasting. While circumstances might be a little weird - and the month is a little cold coming in, given the snowstorm that happened at the end of last month - there's plenty to do, plenty to see, and plenty to take your mind off of just what a weird experience this all might be. Though those who have been in Aefenglom for a while now might notice something different over the course of the festival: they're a little more powerful than before, almost similar to the free-feeling that Boaltinn encouraged. Spells can still go awry, but the results will be much bigger - but it's frowned upon to use magic during festivals. Then again, characters will feel as if they're about to burn up if they don't use it a little... Well, just one spell beneath the shadow of the new moons wouldn't hurt, would it? a. JUST IN CASE While the city is dressed up on the off chance they might be roped into an impromptu wedding ceremony - it's likely that those who aren't native to Aefenglom don't have such luck. Thankfully, the tailors of city are offering free clothes on the caveat they advertise for them by wearing them around the festivities - they're long yet breathable garments, with colors that are fairly muted oranges and reds, not unlike the coming fall. It'd seem the fear of red skies from Litha has started to fade as nothing else too terrible has happened to the city at large, at least on the surface. And as it turns out, those offers might be better timed than they think: characters will be pulled into ceremonies at random to act as witnesses, to serve as dance partners for lonely folk, or just because they really needed someone to even out the numbers. b. ON THE CATWALK An annual occasion, the Aefenglom Fashion Show is always a bustling, bright time for those young and old to strut their stuff and try their best to either follow the latest trends, or spark them into being. Unfortunately, they're running a little low on models this year - many of their other ones decided to try their hand at sewing themselves - and so they're accepting volunteers! Willing or not; many of the more aggressive youths aren't above dragging those they deem perfect enough to wear their clothing to the back of the stage set up in the center of the Shopping District and pushing them out onto the catwalk dressed to the nines in all sorts of ridiculous-looking styles. c. EYE-CATCHING A few of the newest fashionistas in town have tried their hand at some rather... peculiar-looking clothing - but none so peculiar as those found in Precogstitchin' or Arwel's Tailory, in two completely different ways. While those who try on a piece or two of Precogstichin's wares will find themselves the center of attention due to their rather avant-garde shape, color, and pattern choices - not to mention accessories and rumor of being made of arachne silk! - those who try on Arwel's wares will find themselves being stopped quite frequently in the street despite the rather plain and dull colors and formless shapes the tailory provides as free samples. d. NEW MOON RITES While native Witches bemoan their weakened magics - some even expressing relief the new moon happens to land on a festival this year so they don't have to notice just how weak they are, mirrorbound Witches will find themselves feeling just the opposite: they're stronger. For those that chance a little magic despite the unspoken rules of the festivals in Aefenglom, they'll find the expelling of energy to be very relieving, as if a weight lifts off their shoulders. For those that refuse the siren's song of release, however, sparks of magical energy will fly from them, with a myriad of results - enchanting inanimate objects, transforming animals from one thing to another, starting small fires, creating illusions of the person or creature they fear the most... and so on.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. 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 now 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 August's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. 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

[hippocarnival]

[I. Arrival]

[Yuya trips forward through the mirror, barely catching himself on his hands and knees as he stumbles. He blinks rapidly at the floor, then turns his head up to be greeted with his reflection a dozen times over, with everyone else in the same position.

It takes a moment, and then he jerks to attention and scrambles up. He spins around to face the mirror he came from, slamming his hands against it as if it'll take him back through the same way he came.] No!

[III. Haven]

[He's compliant once the witches come to gather the... newest batch of arrivals? It isn't like the dream he had, pieces of which he just barely remembers, but there are terms that are familiar, so he suspects it must be the same place.

He looks around curiously as he follows the guide down the halls. He's not looking at the architecture, though--he's looking for people. Someone who might be familiar from that dream.

It means he's also not looking where he's going when they're turning a corner, or what he's about to run into.]

[IV. Lunasa]

[Yuya's colorful, modern attire (And hair) don't... really mesh with the fashion of the city at all. He's aware he'll need a change of clothes eventually, but after a weeks of having to make do with not having even that much, he's accepted a little slip in his hygiene.

It gets him a few weird looks, but more than that--it makes him a bright, prime target. It's more than once that he's stopped to orient himself, only to have someone in his space or his arm grabbed to drag him to the nearest ceremony.]

Whoa, hey--[And if you're standing next to him, you're probably going to end up a casualty too, to some harried bonded-to-be whose witness couldn't come at the last minute, or a lonely guest who really doesn't want to show up alone and needs a date. Or two, who's counting?]

arrival

[atouts]

Careful now, you wouldn't want to break it for good.

[ It isn't that Childermass doesn't understand the feeling, wanting to go back through and back home, but he's already tried to magic the mirror open again. Only his magic doesn't work and, to be honest, mirrors were never really his knack. Another magician— well, no matter, as that one likely isn't here, either.

He still had one hand pressed to his mirror when he heard Yuya slap his hands on his own, having turned to look at the sound. He isn't terribly inclined to move from there just yet. ]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's hands slide down the glass, his gaze flicking down with them.]

Guess it's not just a dream after all. [That's right, he'd been warned about reflections. Surely this isn't some new place that also steals people away by mirrors.]

[atouts]

So it would seem.

[ Childermass had gotten all the same warnings but he had hoped it had all really just been that. A dream. Nothing more. Yet here they are now and through a mirror. He does sigh and gives his head a small shake as he looks back at his own mirror.

Still nothing but a normal mirror, no sign of home. ]

At least we aren't in the middle of a fire this time. [ The tiniest of silver linings. He glances back Yuya's way, squinting some, thinking, that's— ah. ] You're the lad who made the rainbow flame, aren't you? I remember you.

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya blinks rapidly, lifting his head before he spins around to face Childermass.]

That's right! Where part of the forest was frozen--[The voice and face he can place, but they never did offer names, did they.] I'm Sakaki Yuya.

[He glances around briefly.] I wonder if everyone from that dream is here...

[atouts]

Hello again, Sakaki. [ Yuya, he doesn't know how Japanese names work. ] I'm John Childermass.

[ Though on the note of everyone else being here, he does look up and around them again. There are so many mirrors and not enough light to be sure. ]

And there is a distinct possibility. I remember being told about the mirrors, so I suspect this is the same place as before.

III

[activatingcombatmode]

[Poor kid managed to bump right into a whole person. Zack is heading through the Haven that day to pick up some particular supplies for a certain friend so he's got a box in his arms while he turns the corner. Yuya will find himself bumping right into a six foot tall chimera who looks mostly human? Aside from the black curled horns coming out of his skill and the fur up his arms. And the... wolf tail. Yeah.]

Whoa-! Watch it! Coming through!

[Zack pats a clawed hand on the boy's shoulder.]

You okay?

[hippocarnival]

Sorry! [Yuya staggers back until he's caught by the hand on his shoulder and looks up... and up. Solid Vision has braced him to take in the more monstrous forms with stride. These aren't holograms, but when the hologram is so lifelike he can catch every sensation from it, it makes the real deal less alarming to face.]

I'm--okay. I just wasn't looking where I was going. [He waves a hand.] I'm new.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack lets out an easy laugh.]

Looks like it. Only new arrivals look as bewildered as you do.

[He adjusts his cargo and then gives a small shrug. No harm done here.]

It's a little overwhelming at first.

[hippocarnival]

I guess it's pretty obvious. [He rubs the back of his neck.] But I'll get out of your way, you look busy.

[He circles around to give Zack clearance to go forward. He needs to get his head screwed on straight.]

iv

[nemuru]

[ Ritsu is the first - albeit he was snagged before Yuya, so Ritsu's just the half-rabbit next to him when he gets put where he should be. Ritsu glances at him curiously, ears twitching, then turns his gaze right back to the impromptu ceremony's attempts to calm and right itself.

He leans a little to the side, closest to Yuya. ] Gonna guess you don't know the lucky couple either, huh?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya looks between the couple ahead, the guy who dragged him over here, and then Ritsu. He leans over in return to keep his voice down.] No, I didn't know this was a wedding?

[nemuru]

That makes two of us.

[ One ear flops right back down, the other staying up to catch the rest of everyone's chatter. It's difficult to pick out what's actually relevant to the two of them, but he's not a bad multi-tasker. ]

I've been gettin' dragged into stuff like this for hours though... I'm so tired. Kinda wanna make a burrow until this dumb festival about dating or marriage or whatever blows over.

[hippocarnival]

That bad? [Yuya looks up at the ears for a moment when he catches their movement. But just a moment.

He leans back in his seat.] Do they do this to everyone, or is it just because we stick out?

iii

[horkbajir]

[It's probably not the best experience running into Toby, a six-foot-plus bladed alien lizard creature. She has at least enchanted her blades so that they don't casually cut living flesh, but they may still put holes in clothing and graze skin if touched. If not touched - it's still very sudden.

She's here out of the vague hope of seeing someone familiar. Hasn't happened yet. Toby steps back, looking down at the small colorful figure. Her voice is very deep and on the guttral side.]

Careful. Are you all right?

[hippocarnival]

Yeah--sorry! [Yuya steps back, bowing his head sheepishly. Then he glances up and sees how close he was to running himself on those blades and takes another three steps back.] I didn't mean to.

[horkbajir]

It's the hazard inherent to human structures, I fear. It is not possible to see around these sharp bends.

[She's not a fan of buildings.]

You wouldn't have been hurt, at least.

[hippocarnival]

Uh... sure. [He never really thought of it as a hazard before.]

I just got here, so I'm trying to get familiar with the place.

III kinda?

[alienwear]

[ Since new arrivals tend to, uh, arrive, like clockwork, Peridot has taken to hanging around the Coven on such nights. Hoping, or perhaps dreading, that people she recognizes from home will show up.

Eventually a familiar face does appear, but it's not one she recognizes from her own world. It takes her a second to peg where she even recognizes Yuya from, but when it clicks, she pushes her way through the crowd to get closer, stepping in front of him with her arms folded at her chest, looking a bit cross. ] So, did you forget my warning about the reflections? Or did you just completely disregard it?

[ He may notice she looks a bit different than she did in the dream; a bit less dragony, without the wings or the claws or the snout. Not quite as scaly. Tail's a bit shorter too. She's as violently green as ever, though! ]

[hippocarnival]

[Green was definitely the most memorable part of her.]

I forgot.

[alienwear]

[ She scoffs derisively and rolls her eyes. ]

I'm actually not sure which option would reflect worse on your capabilities, so maybe I shouldn't have even asked.

[hippocarnival]

Most people forget their dreams when they wake up. [Yuya huffs in response. Excuse him for being normal!!] I don't think I got your name back there.

III

[loadme]

[It's not a big impact or anything or the sort, but they bump into each other nonetheless.

Can't people watch where they're going?

Well, whatever.]

Oh, sorry! I wasn't really watching where I was going there.

[She was.]

[hippocarnival]

Ah, me either. [He waves his hands quickly.] I think I got a little turned around. Sorry.

[loadme]

That's fine, don't worry about it!

[She doesn't really care.]

Where were you looking to go?