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

[weirdnecro]

Me, trying to get you all cuddly and drunk? Impossible.

[She smiles, and goes along with him as he goes up to the vendor. She listens, mostly to make sure he doesn't go overboard- since if he did, she'd have to walk. She's not something to be bought after all.

Once he has them bagged, she makes a sweeping gesture with her arm.]

To your cottage?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Right around the corner, here. A humble place, provided by the Coven. Not much personal flair to the place, as of yet. I'm not exactly used to getting settled in.[he was near constantly traveling, back home. Sometimes he would keep a short rental in a city, but primarily he went from inn to inn to tavern to campsite, wherever it was suitable for him to stay.

The cottage is nice, though. It's in a line of other, similar homes, and there's plenty of yard space if he wanted to cultivate a garden one day. He'll open the outer gate yard and hold it open for her to go through first. A cobblestone walk leads to the main door, which he also left unlocked. He's still getting used to turning on lights with a flip of a magitech switch by the door, so used to lantern or the glow of crystals that illuminated the Below Lands.]

Make yourself at home, good miss. [the furnishings are nothing special, but there is a comfortable looking couch facing the home's hearth, with well worn leather cushions and fur blankets hung over the back. It's the most obvious place for Everett to offer her to sit.]
Should I start us up a fire? I believe there was a cold snap about to set in. [magical in nature, since the summer was in full swing, but Everett had been warned]

[weirdnecro]

It's fine. If it helps, I'm still settling in myself.

[She was much like Everett in that it was a night here, a night there-hell, she had spent one decade, maybe more, living in fancy hotrls going up abd dowb the coast.

Still, his cottage is cute, even she makes an amused noise at 'good miss'. She hasn't been referred to as that for a good long while.

Sokie does take a moment to take off her shoes and strode over to the couch in bare feet. She had to cross her legs if only because...well, she hasn't been in a skirt in awhile, and if she sat as she usually did, Everett would fluster again.]

If you would be so kind? While this outfit it beautiful, heat conserving it is not.

[rollfordiplomacy]

Right away. [He nods, setting the bottles of wine on the end table beside her, before moving around to the hearth. It's already set up with kindling and cut firewood, Everett sparking a roaring flame within moments. The warmth of which makes him hum at his own outfit. A few too many layers.

Everett casually shrugs his overcoat off and hangs it up on a coat hanger, making mental note to return the outfit in the morning. Beneath the fanciful outerwear was something like a halter top, sleeveless to show off the long gloves which cut off midway up his biceps. The older man has a rock climber's physique, all built muscle and lean upper body.

So much for the scholarly aesthetic- surprise!- he was a jock all along! Enjoy the gun show, Sokie.]

[weirdnecro]

[She settles, draping her arms over the couch. She wouldn't have asked if there wasn't the makings for it-she didn't actually want him to scurry around like a servant of hers. It was nice to be treated tho-

Oh wow those were actual small boulders.

Sokie did have some arm muscles herself (which she was showing off as she was draped over the back of the couch) but it made her sit up properly.]

So do you have any hobbies?

[Like going to the gym...or going to the box...or going to the FRICKING GYM]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett knows exactly what would bring up such a question. His arms, back, chest; all magnificent. Again, he a vain man, but he thinks the vanity is well founded.]

I have a love for climbing. Buildings, mountains, just about anything imposing I can get a hand hold on. Kept me in an impressive bit of shape, for a man my age.

[no kidding, no kidding at all]

[weirdnecro]

[At least he's not posing. Then she'd have to tease him without mercy.]

That's impressive. I wouldn't have taken you as a climber but- that jacket was clearly covering up the fruits of your labor.

Also, you don't seem that old to me. Just putting that out there.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Alas, he's no Jojo... posing isn't exactly his style, a more modest man than that much showboating.]

I do have a rather youthful appearance. Age is settling well on me, I believe. [He crosses to fiddle with the wine, which was corked in such a way it wouldn't need an opener, just a strong arm. Luckily, that is readily available between the two of them.]

A Springtide man should be as a fine wine, refining with each passing year. Allow me to retrieve for us a couple of glasses, just a moment. [the cottage is quaint and compact, it's no far for him to go rummage about the kitchen for suitable glasswear.

Which he does not find. Whoops. Seems the locals didn't really want to furnish him with that many fineries. Hrm... what to do about that...]

[weirdnecro]

I'm guessing you're not only a rock climber, but a man who believe in moisturizing.

[It was only a little teasing really. But she did find it amusing how he described himself as fine wine. Ah, she did have a bit of a peacock on her hands.

As she glanced over the labels-mostly in case she wanted them again-she listened as he tried to find glassware. While he was looking around for awhile, she glanced over the couch, making a soft inquiring noise.]

Find anything? Like mugs?

[Glass might be too expensive but clayware...not so much.]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett returns empty handed and making a face]

..... would it be too uncouth to drink directly out from the bottles?

[he swore... he'd have been provided.... with some kind of cups! For how well furnished the place was when handed over to him, he'd really have presumed.]

[weirdnecro]

[Oh, he's just so prim and proper! And she is...not. But she is merciful and doesn't laugh.

Instead she dipped her head.]

It's fine. You've just moved in-you had no way of knowing. Would you like the first drink?

[Because he might need it.]

[rollfordiplomacy]

Seeing as you are my guest, I believe that should be your honor. However, we have two bottles. Why not make it a toast? [That sounds rather funny and charming to him. Both with a full bottle of wine, clinking them together before tossing back a mouthful. Uncouth, but in a playful manner he could get behind. He'll move to the bottles and pop the corks away, offering Sokie to take whichever she pleased more. Everett takes the other.]

Ah... what to toast to? New places, new people, or new adventures? Or the whole lot of it?

[weirdnecro]

Ah, that could make things fun.

[She laughed, taking a bottle from Everett's hand-taking the white wine, so that she likely will end up cuddled pretty quickly. Ah well.]

You know-let's go for the whole lot.

[She raises her bottle.]

To a completely new adventured filled with new places and people.

[rollfordiplomacy]

To the people and places we want to know! Aye! [Everett gives an enthusiastic little hurrah as he clinks the neck of his bottle to hers. He tips the bottle back for a mouthful, not overdoing it. He lets the drink linger on his pallet a second before swallowing.]

Hmmm! Quite good, quite good. How is the white? [they can always swap if she didn't care for it, he's not going to be fussed. He will take the opportunity to finally sit down besides her, his own posture open towards her, a leg kicked up over his other, ankle resting upon his knee]

[weirdnecro]

[It's rather adorable how he hurrahs, and she takes a sip, lets it linger, before swallowing. Not bad. She hummed, glancing at the label so she could buy more later.

Sokie didn't seem to mind Everett's sitting on the couch with her either, instead shifting her weight and facing him.]

White's not bad-has a bit if a fruity aftertaste.

Did you want to give it a try, or good with the red?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Mmn, yes. Let us swap. [he has a little idea, swapping the bottles with her smoothly, before lifting his again to another hurrah]

A toast to the present and not the future, this round. To the good blessing that is pleasant and beautiful company.

[give him an excuse to pay compliments and he'll take it, every time]

[weirdnecro]

Sure sure.

[She lifts her eyebrows, but she goes with it, amused at what he goes for that toast. Yup, he was really trying to smooth the way to slide right into her pants.]

To meeting new people who are full of delightful surprises.

[Making it unclear in the flirt zone? Maybe.]

[rollfordiplomacy]

[That skirt is beautiful, it would look even nicer on the floor-

Everett thoughtlessly tips the wine bottle back to drink after his toast. It seems to hit him on a slight delay, a series of expressions quickly crossing his face. He looks nearly disgusted, then confused, then suddenly distant, then disgusted again...

Then he takes another drink to start that whole process of emotion again. Everett can only really stop to justify this with a baffled few words]

What does this taste like-? So familiar and I hate it....[he takes another drink]

[weirdnecro]

[It would be nice if she was naked. But, well...looks like he's forgotten all about skirts and thighs with the series of expressions.

She had taken a sip of red, and it tasted fine enough, and it looked as if...yeah he might get drunk from this.]

Is it too tart for you? I can drink it if you want. I don't mind.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[.... he takes another drink. Even though he clearly dislikes it. After that, he hands it back, even if it seems hesitant to let it go]

It's so very familiar! Like an old memory. Yet, I cannot place which! Where did I have something like that wine..? [he's clearly rattled by it, in part fascinated and taken aback.]

Have you ever had that happen? A taste or a smell, one that just takes you back to another time? That's what that is.

[weirdnecro]

[He keeps making faces. It's clear that he doesn't like it, which makes her quicker to place the red wine back into his hands.]

It might not even be wine you know. It could be something else.

But yeah, I've had that before. [Many, many times. She just rolls with it these days, and sometimes even enjoys the memory trip.] Where I'm from, it's called memory association...or something like that.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett will relent, taking back the red wine and sipping it instead. It is much better! But! There's no emotional response. Though the taste is preferable, Everett is more intrigued by the distaste.

But he's not going to be so rude and snatch it back from the woman. His guest! .... he needs to go buy a few more bottles and figure out this mystery, later]

I'm all caught upon the past, now! I do apologize. Nobody wishes to spend the evening with a man outside the moment.[he'll take another drink of the red, shifting in closer to Sokie once more. A lovely woman is with him and he's stuck thinking of some unpleasant memory he just can't place- where did that taste come from- No! Again. He has to stop himself. What a wandering mind he can have!]

How has it struck you before? Regale me with a story of your own, I'm desperately curious.

[weirdnecro]

[It's normal and it's nice. Clearly he doesn't like nice things. Wooow. Also good that he's not snatching the wine away or else he'd end up getting a slap for doing it. How rude, to his guest!

He can get drunk on bad wine later.]

It's fine Everett. We all have that thing that bothers us-that memory on the tip of our tongue.

But hm...a story...

[She took a moment to think, and her leg slid against his briefly. It's just a moment of flirtation, it's fine.]

Ah! I think I have one. It was when I was in an art gallery, and it was a grand opening-I managed to get in through a friend of a friend-they were a journalist, and they had another engagement. So they asked their editor to give the tickets to me, because I've freelanced reviews before.

[rollfordiplomacy]

[The brush of her leg is notable, but he's then distracted by her words.

Mostly, all the ones he doesn't know. Sorry, Sokie, his world doesn't even have a printing press, yet, let alone journalists and editors.

In his confusion, he jokes,]

I do swear I am not already drunk... but I can't parse several of those words. Are you a mercenary? [that's what freelance means to him, but he can't quite put together why you would need a hired sword at an art gallery??]

[weirdnecro]

[It feels like they step on the gas and then they hit the brakes. Whoops. She laughed a little, and leaned forward, letting her nails graze against his wrist.]

You're not drunk. I'm just being an awfully rude guest, and not checking if you understand what I'm saying.

And while I can be a mercenary of the protection type, I was more of the hired writer for the evening.

And I wouldn't have to write by hand. There are some advances in technology that ensured that the written word could spread, and quickly.