☆ Event: Fright Night

[moustre]

Event Log: October, Fright Night

I. The Mist It starts in the middle of the night. As the bells chime for 3 am, a slow fog creeps across the city from all four cardinal directions, swirling low to the ground, shining purplish in the light of the twin moons. It goes without notice for a while, an oddity, easily brushed off as too much rain and the changing temperatures turning it to mist over the cobblestones. The first ones to get caught up in it are the night workers, the drunks leaving the bars, the sailors returning to their ships, anyone out on the streets when it begins. In most cases, the effects are not instantaneous - it takes a little time to sink in before… a. The Transformations Even if you don’t find yourself out on the streets in the middle of the night, the mist creeps its way into buildings through cracks and openings, until exposure is almost guaranteed for everyone in Aefenglom, and even some just outside the Bright Wall in the Outer City. Though a lucky few, Mirrorbound and citizens alike, will find themselves wholly unaffected by the substance and will retain their physical forms and their own right minds, many more find themselves bent to its whims, changing in ways that could never have been predicted. There is little rhyme or reason to what changes occur or how - some simply wake with new parts, uncomfortable, while others run from their homes, panicking as wings tear painfully out of their backs or claws burst forth from their hands. The mist does not discriminate. Humans and Witches find themselves gaining the parts of Monsters, or even creatures that live outside the Wall. Monsters gain parts that don’t match up to their species - Arachne with wings or gills, Turnskin with antlers and Merrow tails, Puca with the teeth and claws of predators or the horns of unicorns or the scales of lizards, such strange sights become more and more common as morning approaches slowly. Mirrorbound may find that they can even gain the features and mannerisms of creatures from their home worlds. It all seems to happen wholly at random. These parts may not even last; plenty of citizens lose their new additions after just hours, only to gain new ones in the meanwhile. In the dark, wee hours of the morning, the city erupts into chaos. b. Widespread Chaos There’s no chance of peace tonight. Some may be lucky enough to escape the mists or its effects somehow, but the vast majority of the city hasn’t -- and it’s telling, from the sounds of people in the streets, that no one’s particularly happy about the turn of events. Many are in pain, many are blind with panic and upset. How could this happen? What’s going on? Many of the shouts attribute blame to the Coven allowing the practice of at-times experimental magics, while others turn it into anti-Monster sentiment, claiming the Monster population wants them all to suffer the way they do. Other tinfoil-hat-ists spread their conspiracy theories loudly, laying the blame squarely on Dorchacht - retribution for the Monsters the Mirrorbound stole from their city. This is an attack, they shout! The actual truth remains to be seen, however. There are plenty who don’t care about the truth and pay little attention to the rumors. They’re opportunists at heart, and a city in chaos is good for lining pockets. Some less-affected and less-moral citizens take to the streets of the Shopping and Aristocratic districts, throwing rocks through windows, banging down doors, looting shops and the houses of the wealthy of whatever valuables they can carry with them. Even a gang of kids from one of the orphanages in the Harbor District, sporting their own mismatched new features, can be spotted roaming the city, looting stores and homes, stealing from people incapacitated in the streets. They can’t pass up an opportunity when they have so little to begin with. c. State of Emergency Parliament, in contact with the Coven, is quick to declare a state of emergency in Aefenglom. A magical announcement rings out all through the city, loud and impossible to miss. Those who can keep it together are called upon to help find some sort of order before things devolve too badly and more damage is done than can be fixed. People will get hurt if things continue like this, they could even be looking at casualties. Those who have learned healing magic are asked to report to makeshift first aid stations scattered around the city to help those dealing with more violent, bloody transformations. Anyone with prior law enforcement experience are tasked with helping contain and stop the looting and the muggings. More still are called to try and figure out some way to get rid of the mist, or reverse its effects. None of the assignments are mandatory, plenty are unable to assist as they deal with their own afflictions, but any help is greatly appreciated.

II. Damage Control The chaos of the first night dies down somewhat by noon the next day. The air of forgiveness and cleaning up for the new year that was present at the beginning of the month is gone as the violet mist still spreads, wreaking havoc with the citizens of Aefenglom. Human citizens take it worse than the Monster half of the city, but one of the side-effects hits the Monster community harder. It quickly becomes apparent that the effects of this never-before-seen magic are not only physical. Fights break out over anything from minor slights to things worth fighting about, blossoming from a few thrown punches to all-out brawls that spill into the streets. Anger and agitation increase in most affected citizens, and you can cut the tension in the air with a knife. Relief efforts have to be redirected. Some can keep it together just enough to go about their daily lives as best they can with their new ‘additions’, but others rapidly start to lose their minds in ferality, even those with strong Witch-Monster Bonds. Miss Nessie is quick to whip the Coven into action to help preserve the peace as much as possible. There isn’t enough room to contain so many feral citizens, but they try to make do. All available Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster, who are able and want to help contain the people of Aefenglom or each other are taught a simple knock-out spell, or given slips of paper enchanted with the same, to literally knock some sense into the ferals. It won’t hurt them in the long term, but it will give them a time-out and help pull their minds out of their pits of animal instinct. Plenty of citizens will be thankful for this. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy to see the Mirrorbound around town. They may notice that they get more scowls while they’re out and about, more whispers and dirty looks. They come from humans the most, but especially the wealthier people of the city, dealing with their own share of terrible transformations, who mutter under their breaths words like, “Knew they would bring trouble with them. Knew it right from the start.” Known Mirrorbound may find themselves being kicked out of higher class shops in the Shopping District, or even spit on in the streets. Poorer citizens, especially Monsters, see things differently, however: they’ve seen the refugees from Dorchacht, they know what was done for some of their kind. They’ll admit that the Mirrorbound have brought trouble with them, but a little trouble isn’t always a bad thing - sometimes you’ve got to shake things up and disturb the status quo. Though they’re dealing with bizarre changes and an increased risk of going feral, they have faith that the Mirrorbound will help solve this problem. Of course, this difference in opinion just means both sides argue louder and fight harder.

III. The Refugees For those who’d found themselves rehomed, mostly Monsters and what few Witches came with, this is not what they had expected from a “full moon”. They’d been warned that certain urges would be stronger, that magic could wax and wane like the moons themselves, but this? This rampant disorder, the odd turning present in so many citizens and Mirrorbound alike, the Coven and Parliament’s bid on attempting some sort of damage control--? Is this what they left Dorchacht for, from one far too controlling city to one that didn’t seem to have any control at all? They aren’t in chains, at least. They can choose their Bonds if they’d like one. But it’s put them on edge enough that some linger by the docks, both wanting to leave to someplace “safe” in their eyes and wishing to stay. The latter wins out in most cases, seeking to help the Mirrorbound as they were helped themselves, though they may be suffering from the mists themselves... oddly, they seem to be more aware of themselves in a way that the natives are not, likely learned behavior leftover from Dorchacht to keep themselves in check; the compulsion spell had only helped compulsion, after all, there’d been a genuine want to remain secure and safe in their minds even with the situation as it was. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of locals who see the refugees as part of the problem -- before the Mirrorbound, before Dorchacht, Aefenglom had been fine, and in continuing these thoughts, they’re not... the friendliest to outsiders. Some are more likely to retaliate violently with new-found additions to their physiology and skillset when the refugees attempt to help, with whispers, conspiracy theories, and nasty rumors all the while spreading at a rapid pace. As bad as Dorchacht had been, maybe they had a point about the strange, suggestive magic used across the city. Maybe it’s something Aefenglom should look into too, during the fuller moons, should this be the beginning of something worse as the new year rises at the end of the month. But hopefully -- and this is the hope of all -- it simply remains a one-off, freak happening at the end of the year, and they pray the new one fares better.

IV. The Aftermath Thanks to quite a bit of Mirrorbound assistance, the city is still largely in one piece by the end of the day after the full moons. The mist, an unstable alchemical compound, eventually breaks down into nothing after a day or so, and the effects all fade or reverse, leaving everyone in their normal bodies and feeling clear-headed as the moons start to wane again. There are issues of property damage, stolen goods, and political discord to deal with, but the hardest to handle is perhaps the guilt of those who went feral and attacked their friends and loved ones. Samuin preparations continue with an unusual gloom hung over the city as clean-up and reparations commence. While before, though, humans and Monsters could often be found on the bridge over the River Temese, making amends with one another, the activity almost entirely ceases, leaving the bridge empty most days from now until Samuin.

Welcome to October's event log! This event takes place ICly on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Questions thread can be found HERE! Please help us and other players out by putting the subject(s) of your questions in your header! Investigation briefs will be going out soon on the OOC Sign Ups thread to the teams who were chosen by RNG, so keep an eye out for that. And as always, while we do encourage you to use this log, you can feel free to thread things out on your own log or elsewhere.

Comments

c

[mantiger]

I do, actually!

[ Even if it's an unfamiliar face, he doesn't mind if someone strikes a conversation with him -- and unlike most, he actually carries quite a bit of food around with him just in case he gets hungry.

He's a black hole of a stomach, sometimes. ]

Ah -- are you allergic to anything? I have cookies, but there's nuts in them.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy instinctively puts his hand up to the bandage, shielding it. His skin is still pale and he looks dead on his feet.]

They patched me up okay.

[He grimaces as he hoists his shirt collar up, trying to cover himself up even more. It hurts. The SQUIP never used to let Jeremy feel pain like this before, and even now he still expects the SQUIP to be able to fix it for him if he lets it.]

Spend the effort fixing yourself, huh? [He nods towards the horns and winces again from the movement.]

[starseedling]

[Steven blinks, and his pupils dilate back to full size. He shakes his head.]

No, I have to stay here. They need my help.

[A lot of the refugees are staying in the shelters, as they were instructed by others, and Steven presumably isn't the only one casting their attention in this direction. But, he made a commitment. Whatever emotion broke free moments before seems to have been pushed down again.

There seems to be a tunnel vision that comes with this mental state. Everything but the task before him is cast aside.]

[plasticasshole]

Me too.

[Where most people's hearing would become muffled, Connor can hear perfectly under the water. He grins as Gwen circles him, following her with his softly glowing eyes. He's more playful tonight, too.

He looks up at the surface of the water, where they can still see the outline of the full moons above them.]

The full moons prevent me from changing back to my human form... but it's nice under here, so I don't mind.

2

[mantiger]

Dorchacht?

[ There's a raise of a brow as he hears that particular name of a city. He's heard rumors - whispers here and there about the place, but never the full story.

Atsushi's about to ask another question, but soon enough, there's an egg splattering on Zack's face and-- ]

Ah.

A- Are you alright... do you need help with that?

[ He has a handkerchief. ]

[hippocarnival]

[No... he thinks Steven's the one who needs help. He's also a little reluctant to let him touch ground again, so hopefully Steven will just keep floating with his wings there.]

Then you really need to come back to earth. [He tugs once, gently.] Come on, can you focus?

[plasticasshole]

I know.

[His eyes are wide, and he looks down at the man on the floor before looking back at Caren.]

I don't know what happened, I-- I lost control.

[Which is jarring, because he Bonded early on specifically to stop himself from losing control. He prides himself on not being provoked easily. So... why did he just lose his temper so quickly?]

[plasticasshole]

My name is Connor.

[When he's not trying to rob people, Connor's nature is to be friendly and learn more about others. Names are usually first on the list.]

What's yours?

[He lets go of the hand, gazing intently at Judar.]

II

[enkidoh]

[It helps that Enkidu has seen a lot in their life. The sight of blood isn't strange to them and neither is chaos. And death...death is an important part of a human life. Of any life, really. Their life included.

But they haven't been able to see this coming. They had not expected the horns to return either. After all, they have specifically chosen this human form, the one that belonged to the beast they once were has been left behind a long time ago.

And there are feral tendencies. They are small, controllable but very much present in the back of their head. As if it wants to tell them that those horns were only a beginning of something worse. When they hear a voice next to them they snap out of it and blink rapidly.]

Strange.

[The answer is yes.]

Yes, I do. [Enkidu turns their head and watches the young man next to them. He is pale and there are teeth. For a brief moment in time he thinks of that drunk human he met when this entire city was celebratiing.] You do as well.

[When the young man starts to fall they manage to reach out just in time, catching him.]

You are dying, aren't you? [Not really the right time to ask after the obvious, Enkidu.]

c

[mantiger]

. . . Do you need help, miss?

[ Thankfully for her, in spite of the cat ears, tail and surprising tiger limbs he doesn't have any issues in terms of instincts. Even if he probably does look strange like this. ]

[ua_duibhne]

[Diarmuid hisses out a sharp half-bleat, half-gasp as Berserker seals his catch by locking his tail around him fully- but he'll find that the Lancer is no closer to surrender for it. With a light huff, he lets instinct take over and butts his head against Berserker's, almost like a rutting stag. Well. Almost. His horns aren't large enough to connect with the dragon's, let alone make any kind of impact and there's no real force behind it but it's really the principal of the thing that matters.

Even without their Bond and making him hyper-conscious of Berserker's emotions, he's close enough to feel that his heart is racing at the same frantic pace as his own. Something about the bestial energy in the air is playing to his own transformations only, this time, the fear is mixed in with the sense of ferality just pouring off of Berserker. It's confusing- and utterly intoxicating.

In spite of himself, he headbutts him again.]

If I weren't so disorientated you would have been chasing your own shadow all night.

[starseedling]

[Hopefully Steven won't take that statement literally.

His pupils narrow again, centered on Yuya. He does keep his feet above the ground for now, hovering over Yuya like a hummingbird next to a flower. He doesn't really want to get stuck again, either.

His moves his fingers, like he's trying to pull them away from Yuya's wrists.]

What do you mean?

A. Fight or Flight

[futhark]

[ Despite the changes to his body, his mind remained the same. That's what Caster assumed. He still had his spells, and the monstrous features didn't bring any abilities with the race he suddenly started to represent.

It blindsided him to the moons, it blindsided him to how they shone brightly and how their glow painted everything in colours unknown before. He hears the noise and looks around, looks above him— with earnest curiosity and absolutely no fear. That's where she spots her— I know her —he remembers suddenly, clearly. But it feels like memories belonging to someone else.

The wings weren't there last time, but so weren't his. In that short moment before merrow pounces he spreads his arms invitingly — bark and pattern of leaves down his wrists instead of runes — and laughs feverishly. ]

[kuroi_taiyo]

It's Judar.

[ But it'd be silly to continue this, crouched or sitting on the ground. So the new arrival, who only had these temporary merrow traits for the moment, stood back up. Connor may've let go of the hand, but it was offered all the same, to get the dog-eared guy back up as well. ]

We can go somewhere else to keep sharing things...

[ Which seems like a rather quick turnaround, but the faun nature that settled in before other features was more prone to promiscuity than violence to begin with. So it was rather easy to get pulled towards that again, even if he'd been fighting with Connor just a little bit ago. ]

You'd have to lead where, though. See, I just arrived, so I'm still figuring out where the good places are.

Ib

[enkidoh]

[This entire situation makes them feel restless. One day this city was feasting and now they were doing exactly the opposite of that. Enkidu is familiar with the way humans are able to ruin one another and even though they are concerned, there are bigger concerns in their life right now. Like the horns that have started to grow from their head against their will.

Oh and the berserker they met a while ago, stalking them. Approaching them exactly like a predator approaches a prey.]

I want you to stop that.

[Enkidu turns halfway to look at the other, the look on their face just as neutral and calm as the look on the other's face. ]

[bloodypath]

Very well.

[He hates how much it feels like being forced to retreat, but better that than cause more problems. Hubert straightens back up, heart still pounding harder than its accustomed to, but his voice is steadier at least.]

I'm relieved you seem unaffected, Your Majesty.

[kuroi_taiyo]

It's not just attacking someone. This wasn't random...

[ But he really didn't feel like turning the aggression towards some kid. So at the very least, he wasn't continuing the violence.

The other guy was a bit of a snarler, though. Especially with the large canines he'd been left with, thanks to the mist that was going on. It was some kind of animal's teeth, stuck in the confines of a human mouth. Which was probably really uncomfortable, but it's not like the stranger was part of the fight. If he was going to keep getting in the way of the asshole that decided to take a pained snarl as a challenge, well... He smacks the arm away, leaving with muttered words about Mirrorbound.

Which was probably going to continue on into an internalized rant about the ones starting fights, rather than those stopping them, but it's not like the remaining people would be able to hear it. ]

Tch... It's not like it would've lasted long. Why'd you have to get in the way?

[fromjapan]

... I can't. There's something... strange going on, and my magic can't seem to influence my form. But...

[It reaches out to him; the most subtle sensation spills over from its fingertips, something Jeremy would find impossible to detect. The gentlest edge of a charming spell, merely softening the boy's anxieties, his anger, relaxing him to allow the SQUIP to come closer.]

I can still use my healing magic. If you'll let me.

[sing_for_me]

[ Her gaze lowers as she starts to feel more embarrassed at the compliment, her beginning to warm. She didn't think Chandra would like, but she could just be trying to make her feel better. And yet, she didn't really care. ]

Oh, no, no one hurt me. I think they'd be too scared to...They ran away as soon as they snapped out of it. I just wanted some company..

[inlikethebrume]

Not much to enjoy if it's all one sided. Tis pointless if not a single soul thought it would be a good idea to try and go after someone without a weapon! Do they have a wish to meet their maker?!

[Is the dark knight feeling a little cranky? Define 'a little' because she has stayed up all night and worked to try and keep people safe and this is what she gets in return? Sometimes people make it hard for her not to defend them at all. Upon hearing the possibility of more coming, Mira turns the corner and continues to run. Ah yes, she sees the men mentioned and keeps that sword pointing out.]

Keep moving lest you truly wish to be pierced!

[They were close to leaving the alleyway, right? At least in open space there's the freedom of movement as she hears one of the men shriek at the size of her sword and the rest decide to run. No one is behind them and honestly, if one of them dares to try and aim for either one of them, Shadowbringer does make for a good bludgeoning tool.]

Surely we must be reaching the exit to this, yes?

[fromjapan]

[... ah. It smiles, though its odd gaze doesn't soften or redirect.]

I apologize. It wasn't my intention to stare, but... well. I was seeking some companionship, and couldn't help but notice you nearby...

[An odd thing to say. But beneath its words are something else; its fingers work before it in little, intricate gestures, channeling.

A charm spell, something to build an affection towards it within Dazai, a craving to be close to it.]

II

[enkidoh]

[Enkidu manages to stay out of trouble. At times they stop to touch the horns on their head and after that they try to will them away. But for once they are unable to change the shape of their body. There are other things as well. In the back of their head there's something that urges them to behave like the beast he once was. Only more...intense.

And they don't want that. They absolutely don't want any of that.

It is still dark outside and maybe a little bit more quiet than it was the night before but this city makes them restless. They long to be outside. Away from all of this. And while they are in thought they do not notice that they're being stalked. And when they notice it might just be a little too late...]

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy stiffens up, getting ready to get away from the SQUIP by any means possible, but he unexpectedly relaxes. It's only the SQUIP, after all. Whenever it's hurt him, it hasn't been by physical touch.]

I don't th-think that's a good idea.

[His eyes track each micromovement of the SQUIP's fingers. The hairs on the back of his neck are standing on end and Jeremy's not sure if it's fear or static.

He doesn't move away as the SQUIP approaches, though, and the hand covering the bandage begins to lower.]

We're done. You're helping your new users, remember?

[hippocarnival]

I think this stuff is getting to you. [It's getting to everyone, but Steven seems to be in outer space and while that's enviable, it's probably not good considering half the city seems to be going on a rampage.]

Try moving your... fingers. Can you make them smaller again? [And not like, completely wound around Yuya's arms.]

[fromjapan]

[The dark smirk on its handsome face widens, turns into a cheshire cat's grin.]

Maybe. Let me take a closer look and make sure.

[It steps closer, closing the distance between them gradually; it leans in to smooth its long fingers over that long, carefully-pinned hair, reaches down to catch the man's chin and tip it just a bit toward its own.

When it speaks again, its voice is softer, warmer.]

Hmm. You know... I think I do see something I like here.