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

lùnasa

[bloodwit]

[ considering viren has likewise been yanked onto the dancefloor (of which he jerks away from whoever's touch with a scowl), he's faced with someone equally uprooted. ]

[ he pinches the bridge of his nose, and with a tired sigh, ]

... Yes, likely.

[ hey, he apparently looked the same. ]

I'm not much in the mood for dancing. [ he glances to one of the freer tables, pointedly. and, slow-to-warm as he is to the idea - ] I don't supposed you would care to sit. Perhaps if we're seen socializing, we're marginally less likely to be bothered.'

[ just marginally, though. he has his doubts. ]

[chosenside]

[Two people stuck in the same situation, that's a good way to start any conversation. At least it's not a battlefield and just a dance floor, but in a way, one shouldn't underestimate that. There may be no actual fighting, but there's certainly a level of expectation sometimes placed on people.

And while Theseus was more willing to give in and dance, he also has no objections to just sitting around and socializing. That's something that usually comes naturally to him.]

Surely they wouldn't bother two gentlemen that are deep in conversation, maybe trying a drink or two.

[bloodwit]

[ ... perhaps viren should've been choosier in his words. pretend to socialize is what he meant - he doesn't think he's actually properly socialized in. actually too long to recall. ]

[ and over drinks too? that does seem to be a commodity here, huh. it sure is a wedding. ]

Right. ... Well, this way, then.

[ he leads the way to an open table - as predicted, there are a few drinks available. are they poisoned? they don't seem poisoned. wine or somesuch. viren takes a set, tucking his robes neatly beneath him. ]

[chosenside]

[It's too late, socializing is gonna happen. At least Theseus is already set on that and he doesn't notice Viren's reluctance at all. Sometimes he can be a little obtuse, even if it's definitely not intentional.

Nonetheless, he follows the other man before taking a seat at the table. He's definitely less closed off now, evident by his alertness and somewhat attentive nature, but his posture isn't relaxed either. Theseus is mainly sitting up straight as he takes the glass in front of him.]

Theseus Scamander. [The wizard says suddenly, pulling his eyes away from his glass so that he can address him with his full attention. Seems only proper.] Consider this an improvement yet? I guess I should've ask that after we tried the alcohol.

[bloodwit]

[ SOCIALIZING IS GONNA HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ]

... Viren. [ giving him a sidelong glance. ] It's an improvement to a... degree, I suppose.

[ he mimics the other man, taking his glass and staring down into depths. he won't drink much, as he still doesn't trust the situation, but he takes a sip for the propriety of it. ... it's not bad (read: most people could admit it tastes decently), so viren gives a slight shrug of his shoulders. ]

Had you been enjoying yourself here?

[chosenside]

[PREPARE YOURSELF FOR. TALKING. MAYBE HAVING A GOOD TIME???

But Theseus mostly takes that as a positive, even a small improvement is better than none. And for him, he's no longer thinking about lost loves or being stuck in a new world with new magic to adjust to. Sometimes just throwing himself at events like these is helpful, even if they're also draining.

Maybe trying some of this alcohol will help-- ah, he finds it to be quite good.]

This wedding? Most certainly, it's quite a charming sort of occasion. I do prefer the ones where they actually want to be married. [Marrying because of tradition or money isn't quite the same to him.]

[bloodwit]

[ ... ah. so he actually enjoys these things. ]

I'll admit, I don't usually have the time for these sort of festivities.

[ sure, viren will force attendance if the person is important enough to worth wasting his time over, but... he gives a swirl of the wine. and - was that bit about wanting to be married, was that a joke? he can't be sure, so he does force the tiniest, tiniest of polite smiles in response. ]

Can you tell? Even if for tradition's sake, most nobility I know are contented to grand show of it. Or is that just some preference for the ideal?

[chosenside]

Not at all? Hope you get some time to relax at least!

[Theseus definitely knows of a few people in the Ministry that don't take any time off or really know how to relax. His boss, Travers, is definitely one of those people. Not that Theseus can't be extremely focused on a case or mission, but he normally can balance his life.

He looks over at the newlyweds, and they certainly look happy to be together. Not that arranged marriages can't be like this, but he's always been about choosing the person you want to be with.]

Most nobility tends to make a grand and extravagant ceremony out of it. But at that point, in my opinion, it's less about getting married and more about showing off their wealth or social status. [Pureblood weddings are sometimes the worst, really. Leta... often thought so.]

[bloodwit]

There's always work to be done, so no.

[ or he more likely simply convinces himself that that's the case.

regardless -

viren considers the statement: it largely echoes his, but he does detect just a hint of distaste for those of that sort of upperclass. ... or their celebrations, at least, for reasons that differ from his own. after a sip of his wine, he gives the man an appraising look. ]

I don't recognize your manner of dress. What is it that you do...?

[chosenside]

[Ah, so he's fully devoted to his work. Well, that's fine, Theseus just imagines he feels even more out of place than him. And while he doesn't know Viren all that well, it might be nice if he could at least get the other man to have a little bit of a good time. Seems like he needs it.

Luckily there's alcohol.

Theseus briefly wonders how much he should talk about his occupation back home. For the longest time, he had to keep quiet about magic and anything about the Ministry to people that aren't aware of it, but now... everyone here knows about magic, some of them gaining the ability for the first time. Does it make it okay to talk about his world though? The wizard swirls the liquor in his glass for a moment, and it's obvious that he's choosing his words carefully.]

I work for the government back home. [He can already feel some eyes rolling there-- it's not an uncommon sentiment.] Specifically, law enforcement and investigation.

[bloodwit]

[ he arcs an eyebrow at how deliberate those words are, takes another pensive sip of wine. ]

... I see. Working for the government, and thus serving the people, is a noble pursuit.

[ alas, no contentions there. yet. ]

[ - while he's not sure how welcome the prompting will be, viren will go ahead on it anyway, ]

Do you investigate petty criminal activity? Higher crimes, government corruption, or...?

[chosenside]

That's the idea at least.

[Theseus wryly responds; he is under no illusion that the Ministry can sometimes be quite thickheaded about certain policies. But on a whole, he thinks he can do a lot more good working for it rather than outside of it. For every power-seeking official, there's two or more hardworking people that just want to do what's right. It's what Theseus believes anyway.]

Wanted criminals, the dangerous kind. Usually the blokes that you don't want to come across on the street.

[bloodwit]

Sounds as if it's a high risk, high reward type of career, then.

[ viren nods as if to indicate approval. high risk, high reward is certainly a sentiment he can get behind, at least. jury might be out on how keen he feels about law enforcement - it immediately draws a forth a memory of opeli, always so keen on following the law, to the detriment of all -

he wonders how often it is that theseus has to bend the rules to get the job done. he decide against the question, dismissing the thought with another drink of his wine. ]

Have you found it rewarding?

[chosenside]

Any career keeping the innocent safe is rewarding.

[But that's not really the question, is it? Theseus is certainly proud to be the Head Auror of the British Ministry, defeating and capturing Dark Wizards that wish to harm other wizards and muggles. But he's also personally led many other Aurors to their deaths as well-- Paris is the most recent example of that. It's part of the job, yes, but sometimes...

Theseus downs a rather large amount of his drink before responding. That helped.]

And my job-- it isn't perfect, but I wouldn't be continuing on with my duty if I thought there was a better way to help.

[bloodwit]

[ damn, aight. this ain't some test to enter through the gates of heaven, but viren's fairly certain that one has a high pass rate. ... even if he does note the substantial amount of drink that disappears in lieu of it. oops. ]

I see. Well, such dedication to your cause, to the point that it becomes the call of duty, is certainly admirable - particularly one devoted to the protection of the innocent.

[ he's not one much for smiling, or else there may have been a reassuring attempt at one. ]

I wonder if that same obligation extends to this place.

[chosenside]

Thank you, but I'm hardly the only one that thinks this way. Most people that work in the same division as me would respond in a very similar manner.

[Not that Theseus takes his position lightly and of course he does his best to be a role model to others, but he doesn't think he's better than others because of it.]

Of course, why wouldn't it? Being in a different world doesn't mean we stop doing our very best-- perhaps it calls on us even more to keep trying.

[bloodwit]

[ but that is met with a tightened smile; one of the few types of smiles that viren can afford during civil conversation. he brings the glass of wine to his mouth, sips, sets it back down. ]

Of course.

[ he tilts his head to the side, appraising. ]

Perhaps I meant to ask - whether that obligation bars you from other pursuits. It's simple curiosity, as to whether you would focus your efforts fully in protecting the innocent people here? At the expense of returning home?

[chosenside]

Hm? I don't see why it should. There's no reason to limit yourself to only one goal when you can set many.

[But he can see what Viren is getting at, does he split some of his time between helping those in the city and returning home or does he put all of his attention on one thing? While it might be easy to say that he just wants to do what he can here, a certain dark wizard back home needs to be stopped sooner rather than later. It's the main thing driving Theseus if he's perfectly honest with himself, which isn't often.

...And there goes the rest of his drink. Maybe he'll just pour himself another glass--

But Theseus doesn't imagine that finding a way back home is something that can be easily looked into. He's far from giving up, of course, and it'll always be in the back of his mind.]

I do plan on returning home, as I'm sure most of us feel that way. Obligations and commitments don't suddenly stop just because we're no longer there, but turning a blind eye to the danger here is just as irresponsible.

[bloodwit]

[ he's glad theseus to have understood his meaning. viren's the type to sink the entirety of his energies into a goal, wearing blinders at the expense of all else -- a tendency he didn't quite leave at home, either. ]

Not to the point of thwarting ourselves, no. [ what a tragedy that would be, close to discovering a path home, only to be overrun by the cwyld. he notes again as theseus downs the drink-- oof. so someone likewise has some bullshit brewing at home, huh. ] Like you've agreed - we have our own problems to overcome.

[ he leans back, then, lifting his drink as he does so to debate another sip. he gives it a pensive swirl. ]

Mine being a kingdom at war, with the fate of my people hanging in the balance. So-- yes. Hopefully, others also see that obligations don't simply stop after being forced through a magic mirror.