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

[integrous]

It has nothing to do with reassurance.

[ That's a very roundabout answer, but that's since she definitely doesn't want to just give away her secret. She's got bad enough experiences with it, and if no one knows about it in this place, then she'd gladly keep it that way.

Still, she doesn't want to downright lie either, that'd go against everything she stands for. ]

Or.. well, maybe it kind of does, but not in the way you may think. I just need to check something, and I can only do that if someone tells a lie.

[fulgency]

[What she's saying doesn't make much sense to Ozymandias, signaling that she's most likely withholding some information from him. It doesn't make much of a difference to him, however, if she's choosing to keep something to herself. At least not at this point.]

It seems a poor test to ask a stranger... [After all, she doesn't know enough about him to know if anything personal he might share is true or not. And if the worlds they come from differ significantly, that could be another factor. Ozymandias sighs and concedes at this juncture.] Very well. The sky is below our feet and the ground is above our heads.

Is that sufficient?

[integrous]

[ She nods. ]

Yeah, than...

[ She was grateful enough - considering he didn't exactly seem to feel like cooperating right away - to even for this rare occassion thank someone for once, but her voice dies midway through the sentence when she sees to look at some spot in the air behind him.

Asahi seems to freeze up, her eyes growing wide as her gaze slides back to Ozymandias' face. ]

H.. Hey, wait a second, there's no way you're from a world where you call the ground the sky and the sky the ground, right?

[ Because how else could that have been the truth? She didn't see a tail, so it isn't a lie! ]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias knows that he won't likely see anything behind himself, certainly not whatever it is she's anticipating, but it's social reflex more than anything that he looks behind himself. Turning back to her, he sees the upset returning to her expression. He reacts less to that and more to her question, raising an eyebrow for a moment. It's an absurd suggestion she's just made, but with that upset returning, he doesn't see that sinking in for her anytime soon.]

[So, instead,]

The sky is above us and the ground is below. [He cants his head.] Either I lied to you before or I'm lying now. Regardless, there's been a lie.

[integrous]

.. So it really isn't working.

[ In her instinctive disappointment the words leave her mouth before she really thinks about them. It's a little harder to be focused on keeping her secret when it feels like the ground is falling away right from under her feet anyway. She's without an Iris.

For a moment she just stares at the ground, seeming oddly helpless, before looking back up at him. ]

Is it.. Is it something about this place? Does it do something weird to us?

[fulgency]

[Just as quickly as the winds picked up, they left her sails once more. It's enough to at least temporarily discourage Ozymandias from asking what "it" is. She seems too far shaken by the loss of "it," like a lost child to begin prying so immediately. When she brings her gaze back and asks her question, however, he doesn't hesitate before nodding. He tries to be somewhat gentle in his explanation.]

Everyone who has come through the mirrors has been changed by the magic of this place one way or another. I've yet to meet anyone who has retained every aspect of themselves. Not even I was able to.

[He leaves it there for her to fill in some of the gaps of her particular situation on her own.]

[integrous]

[ It's for the best that Asahi is feeling pretty overwhelmed and confused right now. Usually she definitely would have blown a fuse - as she does over a lot of things, but still - over the ego behind the words "not even I". Right now she doesn't care though, Asahi is much more focused on the rest of his explanation. ]

That's..

[ She starts, but any further words just die in her throat for a moment. It's like she's starting to grow paler with every moment that passes. ]

This place uses magic to take things away from people..? But why would they do that? What is it gaining from doing that?

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias shakes his head as her questions appear to lean in the direction that this is somehow intentional on the part of the natives here. It's an understandable assumption to make, but still inaccurate and should be corrected.]

The magic I am referring to is what is in the air here naturally, not a spell that has been cast by a mage.

[integrous]

That's still weird.

[ But her tone isn't laced with suspicion towards him - she can't tell if he's lying, sure, but considering her Iris actually isn't working, there probably is an unbelievable explanation for said failure to work like he's explaining. No reason to doubt that right now. Instead she just seems kind of Done with the situation. ]

Are you just really good at taking in these sort of ridiculous things calmly or something? [ Considering how easily he speaks of these things that you'd normally only hear about in cartoons. ]

[fulgency]

[He chuckles rather quietly relative to his usual laughter. There are a number of reasons why none of this particularly fazes him, some of which is too complicated and other parts would likely be deemed unbelievable to her. And he wouldn't fault for it. Although he lived in the Age of Gods, the things he has witnessed in his time since has been fantastical and far beyond what he could have ever imagined for himself.]

In my world, this very physical form you see here, [he says, placing a hand on his chest, over his heart,] is dependent upon the magic of a mage to manifest in the modern era.

[He lowers his hand back to his side.]

I am what is known as a Heroic Spirit or Servant. If your world bears any similarity to mine, my name likely exists within its history. That notoriety within human history is how one is able to be summoned as a Heroic Spirit.

[integrous]

[ Asahi looks at Ozymandias as if he suddenly grew three more heads. If she didn't know any better, she'd think he's just one of those guys who's determined to try and look cool by making up some fantastical backstory for himself.. but considering the weird way she ended up here in the first place, maybe it's not so inconceivable after all.

.. it's still weird though. And kind of makes her head hurt when she tries to process the information he tells her. ]

Alright, so you're saying.. you're some big, important hero? And people who can use magic where you come from can just summon you to..

[ What would you even do with a hero from the past. This is ridiculous. ]

.. give them life advice? [ ?? Is that it. He seems to be pretty good at calmly explaining situations, so that'd at least make sense. She could use a life coach like him. ]

[fulgency]

[That draws one of his usual bouts of laughter. Asahi isn't entirely wrong and quite correctly assumes that Ozymandias cannot help but sometimes act as a mentor or teacher to those he finds around him. (What else is a pharaoh to do if not to lead and cultivate growth in those around him?) But that is far from the primary purpose of summoning someone like him to the modern era.]

It is a bit of a long and complicated story, but if I am summoned and I should agree to the contract between myself and such a mage, then we are to fight in an important war.

[The notion is generally that Master and Servant will fight alongside one another together, but Ozymandias leaves that part out quite intentionally. It's rare that he seems to ever find a Master truly worth of fighting alongside him. He leaves his Masters to fight their own battles and seeks glory in his own.]

[integrous]

[ This whole concept is still incredibly wild to Asahi, but it should say a lot about how her day is going so far that it actually seems to fit right in with everything else she's heard today. Heroes from history being summoned to fight in wars for some reason. Of course. Just put it right on top of the "incredibly odd things she'll have to sort out in her brain later" pile. ]

I guess all of this really does seem more normal to you then. If you're used to being summoned by those mages, then suddenly appearing in this place can't seem all that different.

[ He sure is living a weird life. ]

Just.. without the war part. Thankfully.

[ Yes, she knows there's dangerous creatures lurking outside of the city, but at least it seems safe in here so far? So she doesn't have to freak out about being in a fullblown war situation on top of everything else. ]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias hums his agreement. Though he cannot help but wonder if the current situation is not somewhat the beginnings of a war of attrition against a relatively unknown foe. Only time will tell.]

Parts of it are familiar to me. But I imagine we share a similar frustration with some aspects.

[i.e. the taking away of familiar abilities.]

[integrous]

Yeah. [ Asahi frowns as she agrees. ] It's..

[ For Asahi, it's pretty difficult to admit to weakness. Despite how emotional and completely like an open book she is, it's not as if she likes showing her weaker sides to other people. It's just that her honesty policy often gives her no other choice.

At least it feels a little easier to admit in this situation when she's not the only one upset over having lost a power. Not that it makes it completely easy, but just.. a little less difficult. ]

It sucks. I hate it. Doesn't anyone realise that living without something you were used to completely changes your life?

[fulgency]

I'm sure that's not lost upon them. [If it is, then there really isn't words to describe that amount of idiocy.] But we have the choice to either adapt or to fight it.

[He studies her for just a brief moment. Her grief and discomfort are understandable, but there is really only so much time that can be offered for such emotions in this place. The continued march of the lunar cycle will see to that.]

Which do you believe you'll choose to do?

[integrous]

[ It's a question that probably should require a little more thought than Asahi is putting into it here, but her answer comes so quickly since it's a very instinctive thing. You could put anything in the other slot of the choice, really, and she'd still always pick-- ]

Fight it, of course.

[ That's what comes most naturally to her, despite just being a teenage girl without any special offensive powers. Other the power of punching people anyone has, anyway. ]

There's no way I'm just going to live like this! I'm going to get my Iris back, one way or another..!

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias can only assume 'Iris' to be the name of her ability. Or, at the very least, the type of ability she normally possesses. But he sets that aside for the moment at her quick and easy declaration to fight. It's a bit of a foolish decision given the impossibility of truly fighting against the effects of this world. Especially when she is still so clearly new to this world.]

[Ozymandias laughs, but not mockingly. On the contrary.]

Although in these circumstances I would advise a little more caution before reaching such a firm decision, I admire your spirit, girl!

[integrous]

If I have to keep thinking about being cautious, I'll never get anywhere.

[ Granted, she'll probably get scared, and probably overwhelmed by the circumstances eventually.. But for now Asahi's spirit is 100% genuine. She doesn't tell lies, after all. ]

And since you gave me such good advice, I'll be sure to mention your name when I get it done. [ Is she assuming she'll be giving some Oscars-like speech when she does it? Who knows. ]

So do you mind telling me just so I'll know what your name is when that time comes?

[fulgency]

[Whatever she's envisioning for herself, he doesn't see her request for his name to be all that unreasonable. And unlike other Servants, he's never been one to be cagey about his true name and identity.]

If the line of pharaohs exists in your world, you have surely heard my name before. I am the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt, the King of Kings, Ozymandias.

[integrous]

[ Ah yes, a name she has surely.. heard before...

Asahi gives him a kind of baffled stare. Is this common knowledge? Did she just not pay enough attention in history class? She's pretty sure there's no way her friends would know him. Toru sure wouldn't, for one.

And since she can't help but be honest, she has to admit as much. ]

I've heard of pharaohs before.. They were the rulers of Egypt. [ She's not a total idiot!! ] I don't think we've ever learned any of their names though. But I'm going to assume you were one of the best.

[ Which she does genuinely mean. He seems like a pretty rad dude so far, all things considered. ]

[fulgency]

[Were he a little less self-assured, he might take more offense at his name being known to her and the lack of immediate recognition. But as it is, he merely finds it difficult to believe that his name would somehow not been mentioned when speaking of the pharaohs.]

I am remembered as the best, [he corrects,] for the length of my reign and all that I was able to accomplish before my death. But...

[He huffs a small, quiet laugh.]

I appreciate your keen eye to recognize to some degree who it is that stands before you even if my deeds and name are unknown. It is good to see that you not only have spirit, but intelligence as well. I would like to know your name as well.

[integrous]

[ Out of sheer habit Asahi's eyes move to the side again, only to realise that right, she can't tell anymore whether people are lying or not. Which is really, really weird, since she's never had to guess on whether someone was genuinely complimenting her or not without the aid of that.

It makes her a little insecure, but she decides Ozymandias is probably speaking the truth, since half of that compliment is just propping up his own ego either way. ]

Uh.. It's Asahi. Asahi Yuki. [ Still, not matter how much ego-propping was in that, she's completely unused to compliments to the point that her cheeks turn a little pink as she grows more bashful. ] It's nice to meet you-- Or, wait, am I supposed to say it's an honour since you're a famous pharaoh and all?

[ She's never met anyone important, let alone someone important who kind of seemed worthy of respect, how does that work!! ]

[fulgency]

It's the proper thing to do, but I will forgive your ignorance on the matter. Outside your demands that I lie, you've been respectful towards me, Asahi.

[His ego is large enough that he doesn't anticipate most people know really how to act around him, or how to respond once they know who they are dealing with. So, he's not personally affronted by her genuine efforts to be respectful.]

I hope you will keep me apprised of your progress here.

[And whether she truly fights or if she finds a means of adapting.]

[integrous]

Of course I will! We're all after a common goal here anyway, right? [ She can't imagine someone like him - you know, the "look at me, the almighty great pharaoh" type - enjoying the fact he's lost some powers too, anyway. ]

Keeping each other updated just means we'll find a way to make this place stop being dumb more quickly. So you'll definitely be hearing from me if I find anything!